Lionel Messi’s father Jorge says that his FC Barcelona superstar son is happy at Camp Nou, but cannot rule out leaving the club.
The 27 year-old forward prompted a storm of speculation about his club future after an interview with Argentine publication Ole in which he suggested he may not retire at Barca, but Messi Senior says he is happy at present.
“As of today there is nothing at all,” Jorge Messi is quoted as saying by ESPN.
“The thought is to stay here, but as people read between lines there is exaggeration.
“Leo is happy, but it is clear that if tomorrow the club says, ‘we have this offer, we want to sell you,’ well then we would have to study it.
“But as of today, we are not even thinking about that.”
Messi has previously given no indication that he has any intention other than to retire at FC Barcelona, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger suggested this week that the brilliant attacker was unhappy at being played out of position.
“He won’t be able to maintain his goalscoring stats playing out on the wing,” explained Wenger to Marca.
“In the long-term, he won’t be happy.”
Until Messi silences the rumours, speculation will undoubtedly continue.