Barcelona presidential candidate Toni Freixa admits the club must prepare itself for Lionel Messi's departure.

Freixa, however, says Barca must do everything they can to convince Messi to sign a new contract as his current deal expires in June.

He told El Larguero: "This is one of the important questions. You have to analyse the situation and you will have to make a series of decisions. To sit down and talk to Messi you have to look him in the eye and see what everyone wants and what the club can offer him. You have to ask him if he really wants to continue, which I am convinced he does.

"The burofax is a problem that we have already experienced. He's a winner and it bothers him to lose. The end of last season was very bad. It's understandable, his reaction was what it was, but it's forgotten. The most important thing about Barca is Barca themselves. We are not dependent on anyone. Messi has been everything and he must continue, my will is that he continues, but one day he will have to leave. And that day will happen."