Talks about Lionel Messi transfer to Chelsea have intensified over the past days after the Barcelona star followed the English club's and some of its players on Instagram. The Blues has been the consistent team being linked to the Argentine football superstar because of their financial capability. It also helped that Messi is reportedly having rift with his coach Luis Enrique. Just last weekend, Barcelona lost to David Moyes coached Real Sociedad wherein the 27-year old star was benched in the first half.
To finally quash rumors about Lionel Messi transfer, Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu spoke to the press saying their all-time top scorer and four-time Ballon d'Or winner is not going anywhere.
"I speak with Messi regularly," Bartomeu insisted.
"We don't go for coffee together but I am in contact with him and from what I see on the pitch he is happy at the club."
"He added that a Lionel Messi transfer is not possibly because he is the center of the club. He is our leader and as I have said before we want to build the team around him. He is playing as well this season as he was last season."
Talks of Lionel Messi transfer out of Camp Nou was fueled by his reported fall out with his coach Enrique who neither confirmed nor denied the rumors.
"I am not here to deny or confirm any of these stories. My job is to coach the first team. We are still in all the competitions and I am optimistic about the rest of the season," Enrique said adding that he and Messi have the 'same relationship' ever since he set a foot at the start of the season at Barcelona.
"I have the same relationship with him (Messi) as when I joined the club, and it's the same as with all the players," he continued.
"Coaches always depend on results but I do feel backed by the players and by the board. I have nothing to be sorry for in terms of how I treat the players. I am piloting the ship as I see fit. And I'm not going to comment on all the stories that have come out in the last couple of days."
