Lionel Messi won't make a decision on his Barcelona future until the last minute, and wants to see how the rest of the season plays out

• Lionel Messi will likely wait to the last minute to decide on his Barcelona future,
• "A lot of it will depend on what happens this season," Spanish football expert Guillem Balagué said.
• "If it ends up well, then you may Messi deciding to stay," he told Insider.

Lionel Messi has yet to make a decision on his FC Barcelona future and is waiting to see how the rest of the season plays out, according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balagué.

Messi, who has been with Barcelona since he was 12 years old, shocked the footballing world in August by declaring his intention to leave the Camp Nou by way of a transfer request.

Though he ultimately decided to stay amid a dispute over his contract, the Argentine is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal and is free to leave the club this summer.

Balague says whether the 33-year-old stays or goes hangs in the balance, but that he probably won't make a decision until after the end of the 2021 season.

"Messi hasn't decided, which is interesting because a lot of people assume that he's definitely, definitely going and that hasn't happened yet," the Spaniard told Insider at a celebration of La Liga's 90th birthday on Thursday.

"A lot of it will depend on what happens this season. If you look back, Barcelona haven't beat Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, or Sevilla since 2019, which perhaps suggests they have dropped too far down to be a team that is competitive.

"But, the way [this season] is going, it could actually end up completely different. If it ends up well, then you may Messi deciding to stay."

Barca endured a difficult start to the season under new manager Ronald Koeman, losing four and drawing two of its opening 10 La Liga games.

Since then, however, the Catalans are undefeated in the Spanish top flight, winning nine of 11 games, including the last six on the bounce.

Albert Ferrer, who was one of Koeman's teammates during as time as Barcelona player in the 1990s, says he has been impressed by the job the Dutchman has done at the Camp Nou.

"I think he's doing fantastic," Ferrer told Insider. "It wasn't easy, I think it is a period where they've had a lot of problems financially and also they don't have a president at the moment, so it's not the best time to land in Barcelona and try to change everything.

"But I think little by little he's getting into the players and the players are starting to believe again in what he's doing."

Barcelona next faces Deportivo Alaves on Saturday.