Lionel Messi's father Jorge took the centre stage after flying into Barcelona on Wednesday ahead of a meeting with FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu, to try and reach an agreement on the future of the Argentine superstar.

Messi senior arrived in town early on Wednesday morning, nine days after Lionel dropped the sporting bombshell of the summer by confirming that he wanted to leave Barcelona where he has spent the last 20 years after arriving as a 13-year-old.