Lionel Messi Transfer Rumours: Latest News and Gossip on Barcelona Star

The noise surrounding Lionel Messi has certainly been louder in recent times with the player sending out mixed messages regarding his future.

The Barcelona wizard recently proclaimed, "I don't know where I'll be next year," as reported by Dominic King of the Mail Online, but Barcelona's president has now moved swiftly to proclaim he will not be selling the 27-year-old superstar any time soon.

Football Espana (via Eurosport) quote Josep Maria Bartomeu reiterating on television he has no desire to see Messi leave the Catalan superclub and thinks he will be with Luis Enrique's side for at least the next three years: "Messi will continue here this season, next season and the one after that. He has a contract and is happy, so I’ll refer you to his words. We have no intention of selling Leo because we are very happy with him."

Barca fans will be pleased to hear these words in light of rumours linking the player with a gigantic deal to join newly sponsored Adidas club, Manchester United.

Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express said reports in Spain link United with a move for Messi, with Adidas brokering the deal to capture the player.

The German company will begin a £750 million shirt sponsorship with the Red Devils in 2015-16, per James Dickenson of the Daily Express, with a Daily Mail source declaring, "It's no secret that after this [Adidas sponsorship], nobody is off limits."

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But Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge believes United have no chance of grabbing Messi, saying the Camp Nou will be the Argentinian captain's home for life, per German outlet Kicker (via Chapman): "Messi and Barcelona have made a marriage for life. They will never separate, just like Philipp Lahm and Bayern. I am familiar with the leaders at Barcelona, they will never let him leave and he has a release clause of €250 million. To this I say that Messi will stay at Barcelona."

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And the German supremo might possibly be correct—especially with the burgeoning partnership between Messi and Neymar.

Writing for Sky Sports, Guillem Balague says the two have found a chemistry together which has taken a year to develop, and now, Barca are seeing the fruits of their labour: "In the beginning, there were doubts Neymar’s submission to Messi was genuine, and there was tension at the start between the two. Neymar now is playing that game and that keeps a balance in the team. He insists Messi is the number one, and for Messi that is to be expected. All in all, that makes Barcelona stronger."

Balague's assessment is accurate, and when you consider Barca's current league position, they are not far away from once again capturing multiple trophies.

The Catalan machine has been ticking away under Enrique, and we have not yet seen his side perform to its true capabilities—a fact that will scare Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

The gossip will continue about Messi long into the depths of next summer, but even if United do come calling, it is unlikely he will take up the challenge if his current club side are winning pots of gold.