No doubts Messi will remain with Barca – Xavi

Following rumours of a Lionel Messi’s sensational switch away from the Nou Camp to the Premier League in a £100million deal, his former Barcelona team-mate Xavi has said the speculations are nothing more than a ‘noise’.

The Catalan club had recently admitted they are struggling financially to meet the Argentinian’s wage demands, but hoped to be able to keep the superstar in the club much longer.

However, English Premier League side Manchester City have most recently been linked with a £100million bid for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, a deal that would see him and his old boss Pep Guardiola reunited.

The reports claimed that talks between executives of both clubs “were held at the end of last month to determine whether a world-record transfer is possible,” adding that, although City did not use those discussions to table any formal bid, Barcelona’s “willingness to listen” have encouraged them, and a source had described the meeting as positive.

But Xavi has played down such a prospect.

“There’s always a lot of noise in the media when it comes to Messi,” he told Fox Sports.

Read Also: Man City to Barcelona: We will pay £100million for Lionel Messi

“He’s the best player in the world and people always want to write about him, but often the noise is false, it’s not true, and I’m sure that’s the case at the moment.

“Throughout the years there’s no doubt he would have had chances to make more money with huge offers from the clubs with rich owners, but his heart is with Barca.

“His relationship with Barca is idyllic and I think it will continue for many more years yet,” he added.

Xavi, who lifted three Champions League trophies with Messi and is now playing in Qatar with Al Sadd, added this emphatically: “I don’t have any doubts that Messi will renew with Barcelona, no doubts!”

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now