Transfer Centre

Josep Maria Bartomeu: 'Barcelona don't want to sell Lionel Messi'

By Joe Fish, Reporter | 07 January 2015

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu insists that they do not want to sell "best player in the world" Lionel Messi amid reports that he is unsettled at the club.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has insisted that the club do not want to sell "the best player in the world" Lionel Messi.

Recent reports have suggested that the Argentine was looking for a way out of Camp Nou after falling out with head coach Luis Enrique.

Enrique has played down any dispute between the pair, and Bartomeu has also given Messi his full backing and stressed his importance to the La Liga giants.

"The whole footballing world knows that Barcelona don't want to sell Messi. For me he is the best player in the world," he told a Wednesday press conference.

"He is the leader of this team which has a great many other players and he will stay."

Chelsea have been linked with a staggering £200m move for Messi and are believed to have sounded out the four-time Ballon d'Or winner's father regarding his interest in a Premier League switch.

Bartomeu has announced that there will be an early presidential election at the end of the season. Director of football Andoni Zubizaretta left the club on Monday before his assistant Carles Puyol also departed.