Sergio Busquets has reassured Barcelona fans that Lionel Messi has no intentions of leaving the club.
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Busquets spoke out following reports which suggested the Argentinian had fallen out with manager Luis Enrique.
Messi insisted he was staying put after Barca’s 3-1 win over Atletico Madrid at the weekend but then cast further doubt with some ambiguous comments about his future at Monday night’s Ballon d’Or ceremony where he finished runner-up to Cristiano Ronaldo.
But the 26-year-old Busquets has no doubts Messi will be staying with the Catalan club, saying: “He controls his future and he has said he has no intention of leaving – and that’s very important for us.
“All he was saying yesterday was the typical cliche that you never know what might happen in the future.
“People usually only know what they are told by the press but I think everyone has now had a chance to speak. We just want to be united, to be as one, and for the fans to be behind us.”
Busquets spoke very highly of his team-mate, describing him as a very ‘down-to-earth’ person – and expects the La Liga record goalscorer to see out the remainder of his career at Barcelona.
According to reports, Messi’s reportedly rocky relationship with Enrique already has major European clubs on alert.
And the alarm bells rang louder after Messi said on Monday: “I’ve always said I want to end my career at Barcelona. But you never know what will happen in the world of football. I do not know where I’ll be next year.”
Messi made reference to similar comments made on the night by his big rival Ronaldo that “lots of things change in football and anything can happen.”
If Messi is uncertain, it could be the result of a year without club titles as well as losing the World Cup final to Germany and the world player of the year title to Ronaldo for the second year in a row.
His move to follow Chelsea’s Instagram social media account and to put Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in third place in his votes for coach of the year all added to the conjecture.
The Argentine’s future could take centre stage when Josep Bartomeu seeks re-election as Barcelona president when the season ends, having brought forward the vote because of the multiple storms surrounding the club. Former president Joan Laporta, who oversaw two Champions League triumphs when in charge between 2003 and 2010, has been strongly linked with a return to the top job at the Nou Camp.