Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu was beaming after their thumping win at Deportivo La Coruna.

Bartomeu felt Lionel Messi's hat-trick was a clear answer to the rumours of the Argentine being unsettled.

"He is the best, our star," declared the president. "We have built the team around him. He's our leader."

Bartomeu continued: "We are pleased with this first-half of the season because many new players arrived and the team is still improving."

On a new sports director, he added: "There will be a sports manager but there's no hurry to find him.

"We cannot sign anyone this summer."