Lionel Messi is being linked to big-money teams like Chelsea and Manchester City over the past several weeks. But will the superstar forward leave FC Barcelona this January transfer window?
Messi, who finished runner-up to Cristiano Ronaldo in the Ballon d'Or race, admitted before the ceremony on Tuesday that he is unsure about his future at FC Barcelona because anything can happen in football.
The Argentina international insisted once again that he wants to stay at Camp Nou for the rest of his career, but there are certain factors and events that are out of his control.
"I've always said that I'd like to finish my career at Barcelona, play at Newell's, but as Cristiano just said, nobody knows what the future holds and much less so in the case of the football world, where everything can change overnight," Messi told reporters.
Recent reports suggested that Messi is unhappy at Camp Nou mainly because of coach Luis Enrique. Messi allegedly told FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu that he will leave the club if they will not fire Enrique.
Messi denied such report and insisted that he is not the type of player who will force his way out of the club. The 27-year-old forward admitted that he was hurt when he heard that people within the organization were saying that he wants out of the club as soon as possible.
"I have heard lots of things being said about me before and now, Messi said. "They make it look like I am the one who is in charge here when I am just another player. I have never demanded anything to stay because I don't have any intention of going. I heard people say that my dad had spoken to Chelsea, to City. It's all lies."
Chelsea are among the teams that are reportedly interested in acquiring Messi via lucrative transfer deal with FC Barcelona, but Blues manager Jose Mourinho have already denied that they are planning to make a move to acquire the Argentine superstar.
FC Barcelona defender Sergio Busquets also played down reports about Messi's plan to leave Camp Nou this month or after the current season.
Busquets pointed out that Messi's statements about his future are always being misunderstood, insisting that he and the club is confident that their superstar forward, who recently broke the Spanish La Liga and UEFA Champions League scoring record, will not consider leaving the club.
