Barcelona's iconic Nou Camp stadium could soon be named after Lionel Messi

In this file photo taken on May 06, 2018 A general view shows the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on May 6, 2018. [Pau Barrena, AFP]

Barcelona presidential hopeful Emili Rousaud has promised to hold a referendum over naming the Nou Camp after Lionel Messi if he is elected in January.

Rousaud is one of the candidates hoping to succeed the already departed Josep Maria Bartomeu at the beginning of next year, and as well as changing the name of the stadium he has also promised that he will sign Neymar and another unnamed superstar next summer.

Barca have bee floundering of late amid poor results at the start of the season, with the club currently down in 13th place in La Liga and 12 points behind leaders Real Sociedad having lost three of their opening eight games.

New manager Ronald Koeman has been unable to lift the mood around the club, with Messi still to sign a new contract and able to walk away for free next summer.

But Rousaud, perhaps in a desperate attempt to keep the club icon, has made the ground name change one of his major policies as he hopes to be elected.

Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi warms up before the UEFA Champions League Group F football match between Barcelona and Inter Milan at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, on October 2, 2019. [Photo by Josep LAGO, AFP]  

"We will hold a referendum to change the name of the stadium to Camp Nou - Leo Messi," he said on Thursday, via Marca.

He is also confident that Neymar can be brought back to the club, despite the Brazilian currently being involved in a lawsuit against them over contractual issues.

"We're going to sign two top players, one of them is Neymar," Rousaud continued.

"We are working to bring him back to Barcelona... if he withdraws the lawsuit he has against the club.

"We hope to be able to announce soon the name of the other big-name player we want to bring," he said. "It will not leave anyone indifferent. We have a direct line to the player."