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Barcelona are hopeful superstar captain Lionel Messi has not played his last El Clasico for the LaLiga giants, said director Guillermo Amor. Messi is out of contract at the end of the season and his future with Barca is far from certain amid strong links to Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.
New Barca President Joan Laporta remains determined to re-sign Messi, who has spent his entire senior career at Camp Nou.
Amor was asked about Messi's future after Barca lost Saturday's Clasico 2-1 at Real Madrid.
"We hope not," Amor told reporters following the match when asked if it was Messi's final Clasico showdown. "We hope he decides to stay at Barcelona and plays many more Clasicos with Barcelona."
Messi had seven attempts on goal against Madrid, including when he hit the post with an audacious effort directly from a corner towards the end of the first half. No Barcelona player had more shots, but Messi could not find a way through in what could potentially be his final tangle with Madrid in this famous fixture.
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner has now gone seven Clasicos in all competitions without scoring – the longest drought of his career against Los Blancos. Barca missed the chance to move top of the league standings on Saturday – Ronald Koeman's men left in third position and a point adrift of Madrid and Atletico Madrid.