FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has insisted Lionel Messi will sign a contract extension at the Nou Camp and end his career with the Spanish champions.
The Argentina skipper, whose current deal expires in June 2018, has yet to agree terms on a new deal, sparking speculation he could leave the Catalan club.
"I believe we've got a team with incredible players, all of them, he said.
"There is nonetheless a leader of course, Leo Messi, he is well known and popular all over the world.
"All the members of Barca believe this is how it has to be, because he is the player that in the last few years has brought us sporting success."
The new sponsorship agreement will see Rakuten replace Qatar Airways on the front of Barca's shirts from the start of next season and is set to earn the club up to £53million per season.
Bartomeu also revealed the roles Barca defender Gerard Pique and his popstar wife Shakira played towards ensuring a successful negotiations with Rakuten chief executive Hiroshi Mikitani.
"Gerard Pique and his wife Shakira are very close friends with Mr Mikitani," Bartomeu said.
"It was in the summer of 2015, Gerard organised a dinner in San Francisco during our summer tour.
"At that dinner we met Mr Mikitani, who was, for us, an incredible person.
"We talked about the future, about his interest in FC Barcelona and we started at that moment conversations and Gerard Pique helped us a lot to meet Mr Mikitani, so we are very grateful to him."
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