Messi promised Tito Villanova at his deathbed that he won't leave Barcelona- Henk Ten Cate

                                          
Former Barcelona assistant coach Henk Ten Cate has revealed that Lionel Messi is still at the club because of the vow he made to the late Tito Vilanova

Ten Cate was the assistant of Frank Rijkaard during their time at Camp Nou,when they threw Messi into the first team from the La Masia academy.

Messi and Vilanova had a good relationship until his death, and Ten Cate has said that the Argentine promised the former coach at his sickbed that he won't leave the club

"As far as I know, these problems all started about two years ago. Messi is only still at Barcelona because he promised it to Tito Vilanova at his deathbed," Ten Cate told De Telegraaf.

"But I think a transfer would be in everybody's best interest. Lionel has been at Barcelona for quite a while and he needs a new challenge. He's still worth a lot of money now, but his value will only go down from here on.

"I really want to be supportive, because he has been on another level for 10 years. But I'm not sure he will get back to his best.

"It isn't normal to shine for 10 years like he has done. Most of the big names can only keep it up for seven or eight years. And to be honest, he wasn't at his best either last season, even if his statistics were still great."