Athletic Bilbao hero Aritz Aduriz is happy knowing Lionel Messi will stay with Barcelona this season.

Aduriz, who retired at the end of last season, says it is good for the LaLiga that Messi will remain with the Catalans.

"We all celebrate that (Messi) continues one more year in LaLiga, despite all the other teams that continue to suffer, but I think we will all celebrate," said Aduriz.

"At this point it would be an idiotic gesture to doubt Messi even at a minimum. He is the best player that I have seen and that I will see.

"We cannot doubt his quality, it is impossible. He is an outrageous talent."

Aduriz also commented on Barca teen Ansu Fati: "We were already watching him do a lot of things and exceptionally good games, with an unusual self-confidence, but every time he comes out he surprises, it is inevitable to be surprised by such a young player."