Argentina midfielder Pastore hopeful of new deal with Paris Saint-Germain

Published Dec. 9, 2014 8:09 a.m. ET

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Midfielder Javier Pastore is confident of earning a new contract with Paris St Germain after his strong start to this season.

The Argentina international, signed from Palermo in 2011, scored a well-taken opener in PSG's recent win over Metz and has three assists to his name this season.

And he told Le Parisien: "The club have spoken with my agent. For now, there is nothing concrete but I think I will prolong with Paris. It's my wish and also that of the club.

"I will leave the discussions to reach their conclusion but I am very happy at Paris.

"I have not spoken to my agent about the duration but the longer the better."

Pastore met club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi in the summer to discuss his future, but insists he never asked to leave the club.

Al-Khelaifi has since said Pastore "was the first player to join the PSG project and will be the last to leave".

"It's very nice to hear that kind of thing," said the midfielder. "Players all want to come to Paris because this is a big team which plays in the Champions League every season.

"I arrived before all that and I am very happy still to be here. Long may it continue.

"My intention was not to leave but I saw that the club wanted to reinforce (this summer) and recruit big players.

"At the end of the season, I asked the president if he really needed me or whether he wanted my place to go to somebody else.

"He told me no, that he was behind me. His confidence is another reason behind my improvement. I wanted to show him that he was right to keep me."

The anguish of missing out on his national team's run to the World Cup final has also inspired Pastore's improvement and new coach Gerardo Martino recalled him, along with fellow exile Carlos Tevez, for November's friendlies with Croatia and Portugal.

"I feel better physically than in previous years. This year, I am in the form of my life," he said.

"But there are other things. When I came back to Paris, after my holiday, I watched the World Cup on television and it clicked. I felt bad for not being there.

"It was down to me. If I had played at my best during the last three seasons, I would have gone to Brazil. So today, I have decided not to waste any more time."