Barcelona assure Messi he's their No1

Lionel Messi will start the season armed with a new Barcelona contract.

Sport says Barca intend to hand Messi an improved deal upon their return from the United States.

Barca management are eager to make clear to the Argentine that he is their prime player, despite all the media attention that came with Zlatan Ibrahimovic's arrival this week.

"The price of having the world's best player in your ranks is that you have to discuss his contract every year," said Barca sports chief Txiki Beguiristain. "But it is a worthwhile price to pay."