Barcelona exec: Messi's contract talks going 'very well'

Negotiations over Lionel Messi's new contract are going "very well," according to Barcelona's technical secretary.

Robert Fernandez offered the latest update Tuesday in what's becoming a matter of great importance to the Catalan club. Messi's current deal expires in June 2018, leaving little more than 18 months to re-sign the La Masia product.

Barcelona has already locked down two thirds of its vaunted attack, keeping both Neymar and Luis Suarez until 2021. Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano also agreed to extend their Camp Nou adventure, while Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen have yet to finalise any new arrangements.

"Leo's (renewal) is going very well, very well," Fernandez told Catalan radio station RAC1, courtesy of Sky Sports. "I'm very relaxed, as I was before with Mascherano, Busquets, Suarez, or Neymar. And I am now with Messi, as I am with Iniesta or Ter Stegen. We're working and I'm convinced that they'll continue with Barca.

"It doesn't matter much who will be the first to renew. There will be people who want to poison the situation, but we've been working on this issue for a long time."

The Blaugrana have preached patience over the past few months when addressing Messi's future. Manager Luis Enrique said both parties have to "remain calm" during the negotiation process, echoing CEO Oscar Grau's call to move forward with "a cool head and common sense."

Teammate Suarez was more blunt. The Uruguay international urged club executives to quickly give Messi a contract, "not have common sense," he said in January.

The Argentine has scored 28 goals in 26 matches this season.