Pinto: “Contract negotiations are advanced”

The goalkeeper admitted that he's "very happy" that an agreement with the Club to renew his contract for another season is very close.

Even though there are a few loose ends still to be tied up, José Manuel Pinto said during his press conference that negotiations with FC Barcelona are going well and that he is close to signing his contract renewal. “The renewal talks are advanced, it’s coming along. I’m very happy,” the keeper confirmed.

Pinto, who will start this Thursday against l’Hospitalet, doesn’t believe the tie is resolved: “We are ready for the match and it won’t be easy. Not only because of the fatigue after Japan, which I believe we’ll overcome, but because l’Hospitalet proved in the away game that they can play well and they will make it difficult for us. We’re mentally prepared.” It’s worth noting that Barça won the away game against l’Hospitalet by 0-1.

On David Villa, sidelined for the next four to five months due to the injury he picked up against Al-Sadd in the semi-final of the Club World Cup, the keeper admitted that he hasn’t had the chance to visit the striker at hospital, but he has exchanged messages with the striker: “I got up pretty late and I haven’t gone to see him yet. We’ve exchanged messages and I saw the video he posted. We know he’s a strong person and he’s very eager to return. I’m happy for him because the surgery went well.”

Pinto also explained Barça’s recipe for success: “To persevere, to have hope and to have a lot of ambition.” The keeper explained that some of his colleagues that have won every title possible “continue with the same eagerness as the youngsters from the reserve side.” On the importance of the recently won Club World Cup title in Japan, he keeper said, “for me all the titles are equally important, it’s respectable that others think otherwise.” (iva FCBarcelona.cat)