Messi hints he'll STAY at Barca & claims Copa del Rey triumph as a turning point

Lionel Messi is talking like a man plotting Barcelona's road back to glory once more, insisting their Copa del Rey triumph was a critical step in towards rebuilding.

The Nou Camp side ended a wearing season with a drab 1-0 victory over Eibar, ending the LaLiga campaign third – their worst finish since 2008. The Spanish Cup final mauling of Athletic Bilbao helped ease the disappointment by ending a two-year trophy drought, but it was a brutal start for Ronald Koeman.

Messi handed in a transfer request last August after an explosive fall-out with the club hierarchy and although he's yet to sign a new deal, now looks set to remain with the Catalans.

'The truth is that the recent Copa del Rey was special due to the period we were in, the club has gone a couple of years of not having a great time due to different results and titles,' Messi told Diario Ole.

'Because it is a very young dressing room, with a lot of people, and new people, and this Copa del Rey for the dressing room was a turning point, and very important.'

'Whenever I compete, I compete to win and try to achieve all the objectives, to get titles. Beyond that, I like to win and get titles. The more the better.'

PSG and Manchester City have been linked with signing the 33-year-old and will continue monitoring his contract situation until a new deal is signed, with Barca reportedly prioritising a move for Erling Haaland.

Messi's 38 goals in 47 games this season was still phenomenal by human standards but his relentless form has dipped slightly across a tough two years at the Nou Camp.

Koeman will be under pressure this summer as the club weigh-up options such as Xavi to take over, after a run of only two wins from six at the end of the season saw them squander any chance of a title challenge.