Barcelona Transfer News: Lionel Messi Exit Rumours Slammed by Josep Bartomeu

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has branded rumours about Lionel Messi potentially leaving the club for the Premier League as embarrassing, suggesting the forward could retire at the Camp Nou.

Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague confirmed there had been contact between the player’s representatives and some Premier League clubs recently, sparking rumours of what would be a sensational switch to English football. According to the Sun (h/t Marc Williams of the Daily Star), Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City are all interested parties.

But Bartomeu has calmed the nerves of all fans concerned about their star man departing, per Marc Williams of the Daily Star:

"

People who say Messi is leaving Barcelona should be embarrassed. Messi is recovering for the Madrid-Barcelona game. He is hoping to play El Clasico, but injuries have their process.

Leo and his father said they don't imagine playing at another club. The relationship with the family is very good. We are not in the negotiation phase yet, when the time comes it will be presented. He has a contract for the next three seasons.

"

LLUIS GENE/Getty Images

Messi is currently out of the team injured and, as noted by Bartomeu, is hopeful of returning for the clash with Real Madrid in late November.

After some issues getting results without Messi initially, Barca are beginning to cope a lot better in recent games, with Neymar and Luis Suarez each showing a willingness to take on more responsibility. However, Messi is a player who remains the key figure at the Camp Nou and the thought of him donning the club colours of anyone else is a peculiar one.

As we can see here courtesy of Grup 14 (h/t BarcaStat), even though he has been on the sidelines for a few weeks, the Argentina international remains top of various statistical categories:

While the injury issues haven’t made matters particularly easy for Messi at the moment, neither has the ongoing investigation into his tax activities, which will see the 28-year-old appear as a defendant in court alongside his father Jorge.

“Messi is very angry about the Spanish taxation,” Bartomeu admitted, per Williams. “It is not normal, the information published on Leo Messi. If his tax advisers have made a mistake they have to pay like everyone else. Messi deserves respect as all do.”

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

It is a far from an ideal situation for the Barcelona man to be in, but it’s clear he’s still enjoying his football at the Camp Nou. After all, the form he showcased in the second half of the 2014-15 season was simply sensational, as Messi, alongside Neymar and Suarez, helped Barcelona blitz their way to treble glory.

As was evident during Barca’s 3-1 win over Eibar at the weekend, even as a spectator, the club’s iconic No. 10 remains completely immersed in the team’s fortunes too, per Footy Accumulators:

"

Messi dodges kiss to make sure he catches Suarez's goal. Men and football <3 pic.twitter.com/tuXwPydn0V

— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) October 26, 2015"

For Barcelona to sell Messi would be a major gamble. Not only is he the finest player in world football, but he’s a figure of immense gravitas that the Blaugrana chiefs would find impossible to replace.

As such, those parties who may fancy bringing him to the Premier League are unlikely to be successful in their endeavours. For as long as Bartomeu is at the helm, anyway.