Barcelona Transfer News: Latest on Lionel Messi and Claudio Bravo Exit Rumours

Lionel Messi is reportedly considering a departure from Barcelona after he was handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months last Wednesday. Meanwhile, Barca could also lose goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to Manchester City.

According to Luis F. Rojo of Spanish newspaper Marca, Messi's patience with the Spanish authorities is running out after he was handed the sentence and a €3.5 million (£3 million) fine for tax fraud.

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

The news came not long after the Barcelona sensation ballooned his spot-kick over the bar in Argentina's penalty-shootout defeat in the Copa America Centenario final against Chile. He announced his international retirement shortly after.

This sequence of events has left La Liga President Javier Tebas under the impression Messi may indeed choose to leave Spain, his home of 15 years. He told a press conference:

"

Of course I fear that [Messi] could leave. The only thing I can tell him is that from La Liga we believe he isn’t guilty and we are happy to have him here. I don’t think he is a criminal – I don’t believe he knew anything.

I think the Supreme Court will overturn the sentence. He was sucked in by a risky fiscal program that has brought these consequences. But you cannot forget that he has contributed over £135million to the Spanish state. That money has built motorways and hospitals.

There is no prejudice or personal attack against Messi or against Barcelona. The world of sport is under investigation.

"

Messi isn't expected to serve any jail time, but Rojo described the affair as a "bitter disappointment" to the forward. An appeal has already been announced, however.

Regardless of what has transpired in the Spanish courts of late, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu took to Twitter on Friday to show his support for the under-fire attacker:

There are only a handful of clubs in world football who would have the financial means necessary to not only tempt Messi into moving, but to tempt Barcelona into selling for what would likely be a record-breaking exit. 

Goal's Ben Hayward recently stated his belief that five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi is the greatest footballer around at present:

Former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola now finds himself at the Etihad Stadium, and the ex-Blaugrana chief is now keen on bringing Bravo to the Premier League as a replacement for Joe Hart.

That's according to Spanish daily Mundo Deportivo (h/t MailOnline's Spencer Morgan), which reported Hart's position is in doubt after a woeful Euro 2016 campaign with England. Bravo, meanwhile, was essential in Chile's second successive Copa America triumph, per Squawka:

Bravo moved to the Camp Nou from Real Sociedad in 2014 and has 106 caps for Chile to his name, having stood between their posts now for going on 12 years.

Guardiola was long gone from the Barca helm by the time Bravo made his move to Catalonia, but it appears his performances in La Liga have impressed the City boss enough to tempt him into a summer switch.