Barcelona Transfer News: Cesc Fabregas, Neymar Discuss Lionel Messi Quit Rumours

Cesc Fabregas has revealed it irritates him when people suggest he is playing the "middleman" in a potential deal between Chelsea and Barcelona for Lionel Messi.

The former Blaugrana midfielder, now enjoying a terrific start to life with the Blues, recently commented on rumours linking Leo with a switch to Stamford Bridge. Fabregas believes his former team-mate is happy to remain at Camp Nou and that he has no part to play in Messi's possible exit, as reported by Spanish radio program Al Primer Toque (h/t Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC):

"

It annoys me when people say I am the middleman in a move for Messi to Chelsea. I do not get involved in anything like that. I am a football player.

Leo is happy at Barca and Barca are happy with him. All this is more simple and normal than what what has been made out of Leo following Chelsea on Instagram. Messi began to follow me out of respect, I guess, I also follow the news from other teams. I would doubt all that is said about Messi and Luis Enrique.

"

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Messi's differences with Barca boss Luis Enrique—who dropped him for the defeat against Real Sociedad before the player followed Chelsea on Instagram and missed Monday's open training session, per Jamie Sanderson of Metro—continue to act as the main spark for the exit rumours.

Other players are now being brought into proceedings, with Neymar also facing questioning over the situation. The Brazilian trudged off in frustrated fashion during Thursday's 5-0 win over Elche but insisted he wouldn't comment on speculation surrounding his colleagues, per AS:

"

I don’t talk about what happens in the dressing room. I feel very happy because of the way the match went for the team and for me. We all produced a great match. With the goals we took a step forward. I feel happy for Messi, Suarez and for me. We have to repeat it on Sunday against Atletico. 

I insist, I do not like to talk about what happens in the dressing room. They are private things.

"

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Antony Kastrinakis of The Sun (subscription required) recently suggested a "disillusioned" Messi would consider leaving in a package worth £500 million. This would incorporate his £200 million buyout clause, signing-on fee and other income. The aforementioned newspaper ran this story as their Friday morning headline, per 101 Great Goals:

Rob Wilson of Sheffield Hallam University (h/t Simon Stone of BBC Sport) believes only Real Madrid and Manchester United can realistically afford to sign Messi while satisfying UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules: "With salary costs probably even they couldn't stay within FFP."

Interestingly, Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti hinted he could be interested, as noted by Corrigan:

Sky Sports' Guillem Balague recently told B/R UK's Ryan Bailey that Messi is closer to leaving than ever before, but this doesn't mean a transfer is likely:

The Argentinian star is often the subject of speculation, but mounting problems at Barca have upped the ante of such a story. Comment from Messi may be enough to put the rumours to bed and would certainly help supporters rest easier.

Andoni Zubizarreta's sacking as sporting director and Carles Puyol's exit as his assistant highlights a club going through massive changes, per Pete Jenson of the Mail Online. Even so, Messi has remained a constant of the last decade and is irreplaceable on the pitch, making his departure seem extremely unlikely.