Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font believes Xavi can be key to convincing Lionel Messi to sign a new contract.

Al Sadd coach Xavi is part of Font's ticket and could replace Ronald Koeman should the election fall in their favour.

Font stated: "When you are lucky enough to have the best player in the world on your team, you have to keep that talent. If Messi goes to a competitor, we will not easily find an alternative because there is no alternative to Messi.

"This is why it is essential to retain him in the short term. But for us the association between Messi and Barca is a strategic relationship and we want to make sure that we create the right conditions so that Messi can play a role at the club even after he retires. Messi could bring a lot of ideas.

"Messi needs to be convinced that we have a competitive and winning project, and Xavi can play a decisive role in helping us do that. Xavi's football credibility and know-how are the best arguments for convincing someone like Messi. They are friends, they know each other, they trust each other and that is going to be the key."