Paco Alcacer hopes to stay at Barcelona after Copa del Rey final heroics

Paco Alcacer has said that he would like to stay at Barcelona next season but admitted that the decision is not up to him.

Alcacer, 23, has rarely featured for Barcelona in his first season at the club after arriving from Valencia in a €30m (£26m) move last summer.

But with Luis Suarez missing out through suspension, the Spain international started and scored in Barcelona's 3-1 Copa del Rey final victory over Deportivo Alaves on 27 May.

Speaking after the match at the Vicente Calderon, Alcacer stressed that he would like to continue playing for Barcelona next season despite the paucity of first-team opportunities.

"I only live in the present and I'm happy here," the 23-year-old was quoted as saying by ESPN.

"In the end, the hard work was reflected on the pitch. Helping the team with a goal is important and I am very happy to end the season like this.

"I have gone from down to up during the season. I always try to think in the present and on the next game and, in the end, it has its rewards.

"You can never give up – you must always give your all."

Alcacer made 20 La Liga appearances for Barcelona in the 2016/17 season, scoring six goals. He is contracted to the Camp Nou club until 2021.

The Spaniard added that he took great deal of pride in playing on the same team as Lionel Messi.

"There is no better player that Leo Messi," he said.

"I am very proud to be able to live and learn beside him. It is amazing the ease with which he plays. He makes football so easy. There is no doubt that he is the best player in the world."

The Copa del Rey final against Alaves was Luis Enrique's final game as Barcelona coach, with former Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde widely expected to be named as his successor.