Lionel Messi has changed since assuming the responsibility of being Barcelona captain, the club’s president Josep Maria Bartomeu has claimed.
Messi was appointed skipper this season following the departure of long-serving midfielder Andres Iniesta.
The Argentine has led Barcelona to four straight wins in La Liga so far this season and, ahead of their first Champions League clash of the campaign, Bartomeu has been singing the praises of his new skipper.
‘Messi is very happy here. He is delighted and excited about continuing to triumph at Barcelona,’ he told Onda Cero on Monday.
‘Messi has made a change, he has decided to take on the captaincy and assume that responsibility in the team.’
Barcelona welcome Dutch side PSV to the Nou Camp on Tuesday evening as they look to begin their Champions League campaign in style.
But the Catalan giants could soon be playing further afield than Europe, with Barca set to face Girona in the United States next year.
And Bartomeu has welcomed the controversial development.
‘La Liga proposed that we play a match abroad and it seemed a good idea. We have the obligation to promote the league,’ he said.
‘You have to get closer to the fans and find new streams of income. Playing a match abroad would help us.
‘If it can be played, we’ll do it. The club captains have been informed.’
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu believes Lionel Messi is “very happy” at the La Liga club, praising the star for changing after taking the captaincy.
Messi, 31, was named Barca skipper in August after Andres Iniesta’s departure from Camp Nou.
Bartomeu said he had seen a change in the Argentina international, lauding the attacker for his leadership.
Messi is very happy here. He is delighted and excited about continuing to triumph at Barcelona,” he told Onda Cero on Monday.
“Messi has made a change, he has decided to take on the captaincy and assume that responsibility in the team.”
Messi and his team-mates could be heading to the United States for a La Liga game against Girona early next year.
That decision has been criticised, but Bartomeu said his club were simply trying to grow the league.
La Liga proposed that we play a match abroad and it seemed a good idea. We have the obligation to promote the league,” he said.
“You have to get closer to the fans and find new streams of income. Playing a match abroad would help us.
“If it can be played, we’ll do it. The club captains have been informed.”
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