Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the president of Paris Saint-Germain, has doubled down on his claims that Lionel Messi remains happy at the Parisian club and that he believes the Argentine wants to remain at the club.
Messi's immediate future is up in the air with his contract set to expire at PSG at the end of the current season - he has been linked with a return to Barcelona, and seemingly a more plausible option at this stage of his career, a move to MLS franchise Inter Miami. He has six months remaining on his current deal, though there is the option to extend it for a further 12 months.
Nostalgia appears to be the main reason for his links to Barcelona meanwhile The Times reported last month that he was close to joining David Beckham's Inter Miami.
Speaking on the eve of the World Cup final, in which Messi will be looking to crown his career with the one trophy that has so far evaded him, Al-Khelaifi reaffirmed his belief that Messi will remain beyond this summer.
'I confirm a thousand times that Leo Messi is very happy with PSG,' he told RMC Sport. 'I think he wants to stay, We will discuss after the World Cup.'
The Qatari national's comments come just a week after he had previously declared the Argentine settled in Paris, before saying they would discuss his future after the World Cup.
'He performed fantastic this season for us, he's scored a lot of goals and assists for the national team and for the club,' he said.
'So what we agreed together - that after the World Cup, sit down together. But both sides - our side of the club and him - are very happy, so we will talk after the World Cup.'
Messi stands on the cusp of history with Argentina as he bids to win his first World Cup - and the country's third - in what could prove to be his fifth and final tournament.
Argentina face France on Sunday in football's grandest occasion, with his PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe looking to spoil the fairytale and win his second such prize.
The former Barcelona star went into the tournament in glittering form, having scored seven goals and recorded 10 assists alone in Ligue 1 so far this season. He is currently the joint-top scorer at the 2022 World Cup alongside Mbappe with five goals.
Meanwhile, the PSG president has been bullish in various interviews during the World Cup regarding the club's future activity in the transfer market.
Speaking to Sky News in the aftermath of Jude Bellingham's match-winning performance against Senegal in the last-16, Al-Khelaifi threw PSG's hat into the ring for the young Englishman who is expected to depart Borussia Dortmund this summer.
'Amazing player, what a player. England are lucky to have him, to be honest,' he said.
'He's one of the best players in the tournament, amazing. First world cup, calm and relaxed - but confident. Amazing.'
He added: 'Listen, everybody wants him I'm not going to hide it. But respectfully, he's in his club. If we want him, we're going to talk to his club.'