Barcelona Transfer News: Lionel Messi Gives Big Reason for Camp Nou Stay

Lionel Messi has offered yet another reason for staying put in Barcelona: The media do not intrude on his privacy.

Speaking to FourFourTwo (via Miles Chambers of Goal.com), Messi appeared to aim a swipe at the British media after being photographed by paparazzi at casinos in London, where he visited friend and former team-mate Cesc Fabregas.

"I do not suffer intrusion into my private life by the media in Barcelona," Messi said.

There are many on-field reasons for Messi to stay with the Catalan giants. Being worshipped by the fans and the opportunity to continue winning silverware and break countless records to name but a few. It seems now that Barcelona are a perfect fit off the field as well.

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When compared with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, the 27-year-old keeps a relatively low profile outside of the game, largely shunning the celebrity lifestyle many of his peers enjoy.

In light of his statement, Messi's continued ability to live a life of privacy is clearly of high importance.

There are very few clubs that could even entertain the possibility of luring Messi away from Barca, and fewer still that could afford it, and the list may become shorter still if the local media are a significant factor in the forward's decision.

With the English press appearing to be the target of Messi's jibe, the news will come as a particular blow to the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City.

The Argentinian's visit to London added fuel to new rumours of a move to Chelsea, per Kristian Downer of Metro.co.uk, while Barca director Ariedo Braida admitted on Catalan TV channel Esport 3 that the club could not rule out the possibility of a transfer to Manchester City (via Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News):

"I believe it's very difficult that Messi will leave Barca but at times in football strange things happen. Now with these clubs that have so much money like (Manchester) City, certain amounts don't seem to have a value. In football things happen that appear impossible but I hope he will remain."

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The chances of Messi leaving, particularly in the immediate future, are incredibly slim.

Barcelona's current transfer ban makes it unlikely the club would permit the sale of any player, let alone their talismanic star, as they would be unable to recruit any reinforcements.

When the ban ends, Messi will be six months shy of 29.

Messi would cost a prospective suitor approximately £500 million, including his £200 million release clause, wages and bonuses, according to Tom Sheen of The Independent (h/t Antony Kastrinakis of The Sun). 

The logic behind signing a player of that age for that amount of money is staggering.

Also, as Bleacher Report's Guillem Balague recently pointed out, Messi's family is settled in Barcelona, giving him yet another reason to stay:

Until Messi retires, transfer rumours will continue to circulate around him. Realistically, the diminutive forward will remain with the Blaugrana at the very least until the transfer ban ends.

When it does, Barcelona will face the task of rebuilding their slightly ageing team, and there's no doubt they will look to do so around Messi rather than with the view of replacing him.

In all likelihood, he'll never leave.