Pep Guardiola's hopes of a reunion with Lionel Messi have been dashed now that the Barcelona star has extended his contract at the Nou Camp.

The Argentine ace's future had been in qualms as he had not put pen to paper on a new deal, with his contract soon to expire next summer.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has attempted to dispel fears over Messi's future, saying he has already committed his future to the club.

The contract was signed by his father, including that of his foundation & his image contract.

"He doesn't need to sign it, his father already has. He is already playing with the new contract. There's no better test to his commitment than to see him play."

But Bartomeu previously told Sport.es :"Barça will never make a player stay if he tells us that he wants to go, as it happens in other clubs in Europe.

"We have a way of being different from other clubs, we think the players are happy here to play & to perform."