Lionel Messi is best player in world, we want him to stay: Koeman after Celta end Barcelona's title hopes

As Barcelona bowed out of the La Liga title race with an insipid 2-1 defeat against Celta Vigo, head coach Ronald Koeman dropped a clear hint that Lionel Messi could leave the club this summer.

Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has said that the club was desperate for Lionel Messi to stay, suggesting they might not be able to repair the damage that would be done by losing a player of his caliber. Messi is set for showdown talks with Koeman and Joan Laporta next month with his contract expiring at the end of the current campaign.If Messi leaves, the 2-1 defeat vs Celta will be his final competitive home game for Barcelona, with a final day trip to struggling Eibar on the cards for next weekend. "I hope this is not Messi's last game at the Camp Nou. He's still the best player in the world and he showed us again today that playing without him is impossible," Koeman said after the Celta defeat.