Lionel Messi enjoys Barcelona training as Luis Enrique 'celebrates' the start of Argentine's contract talks

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Barcelona looked in playful mood as they trained ahead of their weekend clash against Osasuna.

They had every reason to be in high spirits after it was confirmed that Lionel Messi has begun talks with the club over an extension that could see him tied to the Nou Camp for the rest of his career.

Concerns over the protracted saga have been dominating recent press conferences with the Argentine's current deal having just 18 months left to run. 

Lionel Messi has begun talks with Barcelona over a contract extension, it has been confirmed

The Argentine had been causing concern amongst fans that he could be considering his future

Messi is now expected to be offered a six-year deal that could take him to the end of his career

But millions of fans were earlier put at ease by Luis Enrique's confirmation that their talismanic forward has begun contract negotiations with the La Liga champions.

The player's father and agent Jorge Messi flew from Argentina to Barcelona on Thursday to begin discussions on a renewal of Messi's current deal, which runs out in June 2018.

Messi is Barca's all-time top scorer and joint most decorated player along with Andres Iniesta, although there has been concern in the Catalan media about how long it has taken for the two parties to discuss a new contract.

Luis Suarez, who is also expected to sign a new deal soon, trains alongside his team-mates

The Uruguayan looks hungry for possession as he tries to dislodge the ball from Gerard Pique

Messi's strike partner Neymar had one year longer on his previous deal than the Argentine and penned a new contract in October while Luis Suarez, the other member of Barca's feted 'MSN' attacking trident, is set to sign a new deal imminently.

'I celebrate the fact that negotiations have begun. It makes me feel more relaxed,' Enrique told a news conference on Friday ahead of Barca's visit to Osasuna.

'He will join other players who are going to renew their contracts soon. When it's announced, if it is, we'll all celebrate it. But at the moment I wouldn't dare to make any prediction.'

Arda Turan looks on has Rafinha shows off his ball juggling skills during a routine session

Pique, who is expected to start against Osasuna, rehydrates during a well earned rest

Barcelona's Andre Gomes heads for the ball during a training session at their training HQ

Osasuna are bottom of the standings with seven points but Barca have often struggled when playing the Navarrans away from home, winning only three of their last nine league visits to El Sadar.

Enrique said the game was even more important to his side than others after failing to beat Real Madrid in last week's Clasico, preserving Zinedine Zidane's side's six-point lead at the top of the table.

He said: 'Our need for the points means we will be very motivated. Our opponents need the points desperately and so do we because we're six points behind the leaders. The three points are always important but this week they're even more vital.'

Neymar is suspended for the trip to Pamplona and is likely to be replaced by Arda Turan, who scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 Champions League win over Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday. 

Luis Enrique said he would 'celebrate' the news that contract talks with Messi have started