Torino president: Belotti worth more than Messi

Torino president Urbano Cairo is worried €100 million is now a bargain for breakout star Andrea Belotti.

The 23-year-old signed a new four-year contract in December that includes the nine-figure release clause.

It can only be activated by foreign clubs, but on the heels of Belotti's eight-minute hat-trick against Palermo, there is a fear in Turin he could leave for less than he is worth.

Related - Watch: Belotti goes atop Serie A scoring chart with 8-minute hat-trick

"If you think back to when we inserted that clause, €100 million seemed a crazy figure, but today it seems too low," president Cairo told Sky Sport, with translation from ESPN FC's Ben Gladwell. "If I were to do the clause now, I would put it at €150 million.

"Just compare him to the goals Lionel Messi has scored, yet Belotti is younger so he's worth more."

Leading Serie A scorers with 22 goals in 24 appearances, the Italy international has pulled in several interested parties. Torino said in January it rejected a bid around €65 million from Arsenal for Belotti, although the Gunners denied making any advances.

In the end, it is the hope of Cairo and Torino's staff that Belotti remains with the club next season.

"Let's just keep focused on this season and then we will see what happens," added manager Sinisa Mihajlovic, "but certainly I'll be telling the president that he's worth more than €100 million and that he should touch up that clause."