Bartomeu: Messi already playing under new contract

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu revealed five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is already playing under the terms of his new contract.

While Messi agreed to a contract extension until 2021 in July, the Barca star is yet to put pen to paper on the contract with the La Liga giants.

This poses doubts of Messi's future at Camp Nou following Neymar's world-record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.

"We will take the photo with Messi's signature, hopefully before the end of the year, but the contract has been signed by his father, who has the power of his image rights," Bartomeu told 8TV .

"This contract is signed until 2021 and he is already playing under it."

Messi has been fantastically performing under new head coach Ernesto Valverde, scoring eight goals in all competitions.