January 8 – Barcelona have been quick to dispel reports that Lionel Messi is unhappy with the way the club is being run and could be on his way out of the Nou Camp.
The last few days have seen Barca lose their appeal against a potentially crippling transfer ban imposed by FIFA and part company with senior coaching staff.
President Josep Maria Bartomeu has now been forced to downplay suggestions that the crisis is affecting Messi, whom he insists will stay with the club until at least the end of his contract in 2018 despite reports that the Liga’s all-time record goalscorer is unhappy under coach Luis Enrique.
“Messi has a contract until 2018, he is happy with the club and wants to win more titles. There is nothing to panic about in that regard,” said Bartomeu. “The team is built around him. The whole footballing world knows that Barca don’t want to sell Messi. For me he is the best player in the world.”
Messi started on the bench as Barcelona lost to Real Sociedad last weekend and missed the chance to overtake Real Madrid at the top. The Argentina forward was then conspicuous by his absence from an open training session on Monday, sparking rumours of a potential exit.
Hours later, sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta was sacked and Carlos Puyol, a Barcelona idol, decided to quit too as Zubizarreta’s assistant. Talk of a move by Messi picked up pace when Catalan radio claimed that Chelsea had contacted Messi’s father and agent Jorge.
But Bartomeu told a news conference: “These news stories are created to try to damage FC Barcelona. They are written with the intention of creating conflicts where conflict does not exist. Ultimately these are questions that you have to direct to Enrique and Messi, but from the contact I have made they are getting on fine and want to win titles. All the turmoil around the club will affect the team.”
Nevertheless, Bartomeu has brought forward the presidential election by a year to this summer after conceding the club has been affected by “an astonishing amount of tension over the last few weeks”.
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