Lionel Messi dismissed speculation linking him with a move to Manchester City by stating that his main desire is to stay with Barcelona for the rest of his career.
The Argentina international was speaking amid reports that City were preparing a world record bid for the Barca forward.
“If it depended only on me then I will stay at Barcelona for the rest of my career and no other club will convince me otherwise,” he said in an interview with Publico.
“The rumours are pure fantasy.”
Messi has made winning the UEFA Champions League the number one priority this season.
“The Champions League is the most difficult and we are thinking more game-to-game,” he said.
“But we will have to be able to beat anyone if we want to win it.
“But we can beat anyone with the players we have. With players like Xavi, Iniesta and Dani Alves all assisting, it is natural that we will score goals.”
Meanwhile, Messi has confirmed that he is now free to play for Argentina in any match.
Barcelona successfully appealed to the Argentine authorities to rest him for recent internationals following his involvement in last summer’s Olympics.
But now Messi has confirmed that he is ready to return to the fold.
“Everything has been arranged and I am going to be in the games of the national team”, he told Radio La Red.
“When Diego came to talk with the people of Barcelona and the coach Joseph Guardiola, everything changed.
“That’s why I was able to play against France [last month] and I will surely also play in the games that are about to come.”
