Barcelona are preparing for life without talismanic forward Lionel Messi, says club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
The Spanish champions have completed three of the most expensive six transfers ever over recent years with Antoine Griezmann joining previously-signed pair Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele at the Nou Camp this summer.
And although there is no suggestion 32-year-old Messi is set to hang up his boots anytime soon, Bartomeu says the club have ‘an obligation’ to minimise the loss when he does.
“We think it is our obligation to work on the post-Messi era,” Bartomeu said. We are thinking about a post-Messi era because we are bringing in new players. We have to think about this changing era when Messi will give up playing football but, as president, I hope that he is going to (play with us for many more successful years).”