Barcelona Transfer News: Lionel Messi Hints He May Have to Leave Camp Nou

Barcelona fans may be forced to accept the possibility that Lionel Messi will not remain at the Catalan club for the remainder of his playing days following some revealing comments from the Blaugrana forward.

Argentinian newspaper Ole, via 101 Great Goals (h/t Sport Witness for the translation), provides an exclusive interview, during which Messi touched upon the unpredictability of football and hinted he may look to play elsewhere before his career comes to an close:

"

Today I live in the present. I want to make a great year and win titles with Barcelona. And nothing more. Then we’ll see. Football takes many turns… While I always said that I would always stay there, sometimes not everything happens the way you want. 

Yes, I said it many times. That if I had my way I would stay forever. But as I just said, it’s not always given that you get everything you like. More so in football, which is constantly changing and so many things happen. It’s complicated.

"

At 27 years of age, the move may still be a long way off for Luis Enrique's centrepiece, but the realisation of Messi exiting the Camp Nou is gradually falling into place.

Last year, the mercurial talent told ESPN's Spanish language channel (h/t Sky Sports) that he would return to his native Argentina one day, saying:

"

I don't know how long it will take but I will return to Newell's. I want to play Argentine football because I know what it means to my country. The truth is that I don't know what will happen tomorrow. I do not know how long I could play but it's what I want.

"

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

After spending the last 14 years in Catalonia, it's difficult to envision a Messi-less Barcelona, the South American having become so engrained with the club.

It's no coincidence that their rise in recent years has coincided with a period in which Messi became undoubtedly the world's finest player. Metro details the dynamo's achievements to date, as well as some of the records he's likely to break in future:

For all the glitz and glamour of his Spanish tenure, however, there have been sour notes during the maestro's Camp Nou career.

Messi is currently under investigation for defrauding more than £3.2 million by the Spanish state, but his father Jorge last month told Spanish radio, per Reuters (h/t Daily Mail), that his son has nothing to do with such matters:

"

In actual fact I want to be quite cautious over this (topic). I have always said it, he (Lionel) had absolutely nothing to do with it, so there is no need to talk about it. My lawyers are dealing with this issue so it's something with me and has nothing to do with him.

"

Messi is once again in contention to win the Ballon d'Or this year, another indicator of his individual success, which in turn lends itself to any hopes Barca have in returning to their former glory.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Irrespective of how imminent the departure may be, the question must now be asked of what Barcelona do when such a pivotal member of their squad chooses to leave. Is there any hope of replacing a talent as mighty as Messi?

Such is the rather scary task for which the Catalan club must now ready themselves. Although they will hope for the best and strive to see their superstar remain for as long as possible, it would be folly to not prepare for the worst.