Josep Maria Bartomeu says Lionel Messi has a contract with Barcelona "forever."

Messi and Barcelona are preparing extension talks in the coming months.

Messi's current deal with Barcelona expires in 2018.

Over the past few months, Messi has been linked to Manchester City as well as a return to Newell's Old Boys in Argentina following the 2018 World Cup.

Bartomeu has made renewing Messi's deal a priority this term.

"[Messi] has all the years he wants [with Barcelona]. Lionel Messi is the best ever to play football in the history of the world and he plays with us," he told ESPN FC. "We are very happy, he is very important for the club, he's very important for the fans, he's very important for football itself.

"And Lionel Messi in the next coming months of course we are going to talk with him because he knows, he already knows that he has a contract forever. There is not a limit with him.

"The limit will be decided by him and right now he is 29 years old, he is talented, he is ambitious, and he's in perfect shape to continue for many more years."