The Blaugrana were bounced from the Champions League at the
last-16 stage, drawing 1-1 against PSG on Wednesday to seal a 5-2 aggregate
defeat.
Messi, whose contract with Barca expires at the end of the
season, may have made his last European appearance for the only professional
club he's ever known.
What was said?
Speaking at a press conference after the game, Koeman said:
"Leo's seen for a while that the team is improving with the changes we've
made.
"[There are] many youngsters with quality and a big
future coming in, so it's not a question of having doubts about this
team."
Barca's next generation
Though Messi remains the team's focal point, Barcelona have
seen an exciting crop of youngsters emerge over the past year to give the club
hope for the future.
Ronald Araujo, Sergino Dest, Riqui Puig, Pedri, Francisco
Trincao, Oscar Mingueza, Ilaix Moriba and Ansu Fati have all made their mark,
with each of those players 22 or younger.
Can Barca convince Messi to stay?
Messi has made no secret of his displeasure with Barcelona
over the past year, memorably demanding to leave the club last summer before
retracting his request.
Joan Laporta, Barca's president from 2003 to 2010, was
re-elected president on Sunday after Josep Bartomeu had previously been forced
out.
Messi's relationship with Bartomeu had fallen apart, and
Laporta has made it clear that his first priority as president is to keep the
club's six-time Ballon d'Or winner around.
Barca have shown improvement on the pitch of late and Messi
was seen voting in the club's presidential elections, which was viewed as a
sign of his renewed engagement at Camp Nou.
With new leadership and a talented younger generation
emerging, there has been renewed optimism that Messi could sign a new deal with
the club. -Goal
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