Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font says the prospect of Lionel Messi leaving this summer "gives me nightmares".
The Barca superstar is weighing up his future after a trophyless season and their 8-2 Champions League humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich.
There has been claims of Messi informing Barca directors on the weekend that he wished to leave before the start of next season.
Font told Sport: "If I fear a departure from Lionel Messi? I think there is a latent risk and it gives me nightmares.
"Messi is an asset of the club, the most important player in the history of the club and that will go further when he retires. The Messi-Barça association must continue when he hangs up the studs.
"He must be the benchmark image of the club and its global growth."
