DiarioSport says Barca directors have acknowledged that Messi has already surpassed Ronaldinho as the club's prime player - on and off the pitch - and are prepared to pay him in kind.

Messi is contracted to Barca until 2014 and sports chief Txiki Begiristain said: "He is happy in Barcelona. He is contracted until 2014 and I do not believe this will be a definitive agreement. We want to treat those people that deserve it the right way.

"He has great room for improvement and has a hunger to win trophies for Barcelona and Argentina."