Lionel Messi has moved to quell rumours that he wishes to leave La Liga champions Barcelona and play abroad.
The Argentine is one of Barcelona’s non-EU players, he finds himself in the anomalous position of being able to play for the Catalans in the Champions League but not, provided Frank Riijkard has a fully fit first XI to choose from, in La Liga.
As Spanish rules stipulate that a team can only field three non-EU players at any one time in a domestic game, Messi – being behind the likes of Eto’o, Edmilson, Marquez and Ronaldinho in the pecking order – is finding first team football hard to come by.
Nonetheless, the young starlet insists that he has no intention of leaving the Camp Nou, despite reported interest from Italian giants Juventus and Internazionale.
“I hope the situation will be resolved soon,” he said, speaking at the FIFpro awards on Monday evening, where he was nominated for Best Young Player. “I don’t know how much longer it will take”
“I’m flattered by the interest from Juve and Inter, but I want to do great things here at Barcelona. For me, Barca are the best solution and a dream come true.”
