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Wednesday 7 January 2015

Everybody knows Barca will not sell Messi, says President Bartomeu

Thegoalmac can reveal that Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has dismissed suggestions Lionel Messi is looking to leave the club and played down talk of a rift between the Argentina superstar and coach Luis Enrique.

Speculation the pair are at loggerheads has intensified following Luis Enrique's decision to leave Messi, and his fellow South Americans Neymar and Dani Alves, on the bench for Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Real Sociedad.

Messi then missed training the following day with the club claiming he was suffering from gastroenteritis.

Luis Enrique insisted earlier on Wednesday his relationship with Messi was identical to when he took over at the start of the season and Bartomeu feels the gossip should end there.

Speaking at a press conference to announce the club had brought forward their presidential elections to this summer, he said: "I can't come out every day to deny every rumour floating around the club.

"Lionel Messi has a contract, he's happy here and keen to win more titles. There's nothing to panic about in that regard.

"The dressing room is a sacred place. Many things can happen there but they stay there. Lionel Messi is the leader of our team. He is our best player and we are counting on his services."

Asked how he knew Messi was happy with life at Barca, he added: "You just need to watch him on the pitch, he is not the player of last season.


"Everyone in football knows Barca do not want to sell Messi. So there is no issue."

As for the speculation, he said: "The stories are written to create conflict when conflict does not exist. But these are questions you have to direct at Luis Enrique and Messi.

"These are matters that Luis Enrique has made clear are best kept within the squad. I am in contact with them and the message I am getting is they are working well and trying to win titles."

Bartomeu has denied Luis Enrique's position is under threat and backed the former Roma boss to turn the club's fortunes around.

"Luis Enrique has a project he's working on at the moment, he's restructuring the team. He has a job to do and we still think he's the perfect person for this position."

It has been a difficult week for Barca and Bartomeu, who, on Monday, sacked director of football Andoni Zubizarreta.

Zubizarreta had, the previous night, made clear he felt Bartomeu should shoulder most of the blame for the club's two-window transfer ban for breaches of transfer regulations.

Bartomeu said; "Some associate Zubi's exit with the Fifa ban but I don't. Zubizarreta had no responsibility for the transfers of those kids.

"The new director of football will be someone from inside the club or someone who knows the club. We will not bring someone in from the outside."

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