Barcelona chief Robert Fernandez insists Leo Messi could sign his contract "at anytime".

Messi hit a hat-trick in the rout of Espanyol on Saturday.

Robert said, "I point to our president's words. [The signing] is an act which could happen at any moment. I hope it's soon.

"He's come back from international duty, after a lot of travel and two tough games... He is capable of changing a game at any moment and the difficult thing he manages is to maintain that rhythm."