Lionel Messi ready to quit Barcelona for Manchester United or Chelsea

LIONEL MESSI has reportedly indicated he is ready to leave Barcelona for a move to the Premier League.

Messi is currently sidelined at the Nou Camp with a knee ligament injury.

And with the Argentina superstar embroiled in an ongoing dispute with the Spanish authorities it is claimed he is considering leaving.

The Sun report Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City have all made informal approaches to Messi's representatives this week - with one club making contact twice this week.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi is apparently considering a move to the Premier League

Messi was linked with the Prem's big hitters in January but has apparently given indication he is willing to listen this time around.

The Sun add Messi often speaks to his friends who play in the Premier League such as Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Aguero. 

A summer move is unlikely given the 28-year-old's £180million release clause at Barcelona.

But in June 2017, Messi will be 30 with just a year left on his deal with the Spanish giants - making a move more feasible.

Messi and his father Jorge face trial over an alleged £3.1million tax fraud relating to image rights deals.

The man who wants to take the Messis to court is State Attorney Marta Silva Lapuerta, who intriguingly worked as secretary of the Real Madrid board under current president Florentino Perez.

However, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho believes the Premier League lacks the pull to land a player like Messi.

"I think there are only three clubs in the world who have the power to say, 'I don't sell,'" Mourinho said in August. "This is Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

"Is anyone in England interested in Thomas Muller? For sure. Can we, England, bring Thomas Muller from Bayern? I don't think so.

"Does anyone want [Lionel] Messi? Can you bring him? I don't think so. They are big clubs with big history, economically strong and stable, income amazing. I think they sell when they want to sell.

"When you see a player leave one of these big clubs you have to think it's because they want him to go. That's my feeling.

"[I'm] speaking about the ones who make the world stop. Big transfers. When does Messi leave Barcelona? When he finishes his career. Report from express.co.uk

Lionel Messi my favourite Champions League memory - Theo Walcott

Theo Walcott has explained why Lionel Messi features in his abiding Champions League memory

Walcott scored as the Gunners came back from a 2-0 down against the Catalian giants in 2010 to draw the first Leg of their quater final at the Emirates.

Messi brilliancy ensured Arsenal exited the competition.

However, Walcott has fond memories of that tie.

"That [home leg] was a great night and a great performance,” he told the Arsenal Magazine. 

“I also remember something which happened before the return leg in Spain.

“I was doing the press conference at the Nou Camp the night before the game and I saw Lionel Messi at the top of the stairs. I was chatting to him, then the boss came up to me afterwards and joked, 'Theo, why didn’t you push him down the stairs?!’

“That has never left me, I thought it was brilliant, really funny from the boss.

“I think he scored four goals the next day as well. It’s things like that that are great memories, because people don’t see that side of it.

“That home game against Barcelona was definitely something special though."

Lionel Messi wins goal of the season

The UEFA Best Player in Europe wasn't the only award that Lionel Messi got on Thursday.

Before the Champions League group stage draw and the ceremony that named the Argentine superstar as the best performer of last season, the Barcelona genius was also awarded "Champions League Goal of the Season" for his unforgettable score against Bayern Munich in the first leg of last season's semifinal.

Late in the second half, after Leo himself found the opening goal, Barça started to dominate the game, and after a nice exchange of passes, Ivan Rakitic played a beautiful through ball to Messi, who went into a one-on-one duel with center-back Jerome Boateng. The number 10 made a spectacular move that literally made the German defender fall to the ground, and to complete the masterpiece, he gracefully chipped the ball over Manuel Neuer to score his second of the game.

In case you have forgotten, or just want to see for the thousandth time like myself, here is the award-winning spectacle by the world's greatest footballer.

No international break for Messi

Lionel Messi has been included in the Argentina squad for upcoming friendlies against Mexico and Bolivia despite speculation suggesting the Barcelona star was to seek a break from international football.

The 28-year-old captained the selection which finished second at the 2015 Copa America in Chile last month and ultimately became one of the players targeted for criticism.

Messi impressed in spurts during the competition, but his inability to consistently reproduce his Barca form on the international stage has started to gripe with some supporters.

However, even though Messi had reportedly been considering a break from Argentina duty due to that criticism, coach Gerardo Martino has named him in the squad as they prepare to face Bolivia and Mexico in the United States on September 4 and 8, respectively.

Other than Ramiro Funes Mori earning a call-up, the squad is exactly the same as the one to reach the final in Chile, with Angel di Maria also present despite not yet playing for his new club Paris Saint-Germain.

Squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Nahuel Guzman (Club Tigres), Sergio Romero (Manchcester United).

Defenders: Milton Casco (Newell's Old Boys), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City), Ezequiel Garay (Zenit), Agustin Marchesin (Santos Laguna), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Facundo Roncaglia (Genoa), Nicolas Otamendi (Valencia), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), .

Midfielders: Ramiro Funes Mori (River Plate), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Ever Banega (Sevilla), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Javier Pastore (PSG), Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur), Roberto Pereyra (Juventus), Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Angel di Maria (PSG).

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Carlos Tevez (Boca Juniors), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Ezequiel Lavezzi (PSG).

Ronaldo, Messi and Suarez nominated for UEFA award

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have been named on a three-man shortlist for the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.

Messi and Suarez helped Barca to the treble last term, while 2014 winner Ronaldo was once again prolific in a disappointing Real campaign during which they won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Ronaldo scored 61 goals in all competitions to move above Alfredo Di Stefano into second in the list of all-time goalscorers for the Liga giants.

Argentina captain Messi has also won the award before, while Suarez's nomination serves as reward for a fine debut campaign at Barca in which the Uruguay striker scored 25 goals - including one in the Champions League final win over Juventus.

Five members of that beaten Juve side - Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, Carlos Tevez and Paul Pogba - missed out on the top three, but were all in the top 10 alongside Neymar and Chelsea's Eden Hazard.

A jury made up of journalists from 54 member associations will vote for the outright winner at the Champions League group stage draw in Monaco on August 27.

Alongside Messi and Ronaldo, Barca's Andres Iniesta and Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery have previously won the award.

Messi lost his third major international career

Lionel Messi will end his career with an international trophy, Argentina team-mate Ezequiel Lavezzi insisted after Saturday's Copa America loss.

Messi, who has only won titles with Argentina at under-age levels, lost the third major final of his international career in Santiago, with Chile triumphing 4-1 on penalties after the visitors had dominated the goalscoring opportunities through 120 goalless minutes.

Argentina's failure at the Estadio Nacional will only serve to strengthen arguments by critics that Messi will not be truly great until he earns silverware for his country, but Lavezzi reckons it is only a matter of time before he dismisses those doubters.

Messi was also on the losing side in the 2007 Copa America final and last year's World Cup decider in Brazil.

"At some point Leo [Messi] is going to win something with Argentina," said Lavezzi, who came off the bench in the first half to replace Angel di Maria.

"We thought this was an opportunity to make our mark, but unfortunately we could not. It hurts a lot. Once again we are left with a bitter taste. It hurts because we believed that this was the chance to win something.

"I think that we should continue on this path. We are all very good in terms of the group. We are just missing that little step to achieve something."

Lavezzi was one of 10 players to have played a role in both this year's Copa decider and the 2014 World Cup final, while only Messi and Javier Mascherano have three final losses to their name after succumbing 3-0 to Brazil in Colombia eight years ago.

Mascherano could not believe he had missed out on an international winner's medal again.

"I cannot find a way to describe it. Hopefully, in the future Argentina can win," the Barcelona defensive midfielder said.

"I wanted enjoyment with this shirt like anyone, but I have to suffer.

"…Three finals of the Copa America and I lost all three. I cannot find an explanation.

"I thank the fans for the support, like a year ago at the World Cup. We could not provide the joy that we wanted. It is a torture.

"It's a great sadness, especially for us who were doing very good things."

Messi, who was the only Argentine to convert a penalty against Chile, won an Olympic gold medal with Argentina's under-23 team in 2008 and the FIFA Under-20 World Cup three years prior.

Tevez: Those who dont love Messi knows nothing

Carlos Tevez says Lionel Messi has the support of the Argentinean people going into the Copa America and suggested any detractors should be ignored.

In the past, four-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi has been the subject of apathy from some in his home country thanks in part to leaving Argentina for Barcelona at a young age while also having struggled to replicate his form consistently with the national team.

In contrast, Tevez - who ended a three-year Argentina exile in November - is considered a 'player of the people'.

However, the Juventus striker defended Messi ahead of Argentina's Copa America's opener against Paraguay, telling the competition's official website: "I believe the people do love [Messi] because he’s Argentine and because he's the best in the world.

"He who doesn't love Messi knows nothing about football or about life. More than that, I don't know what’s going on in their heads.

"Messi is still the same. What has changed is that he has three or four kilos less than before. That means he has more desire, it changes your state of mind, it changes everything.

"I believe he is in his best moment."

Tevez was frozen out of the national set-up by Gerardo Martino's predecessor Alejandro Sabella, with some reports suggesting it was because of a fractious relationship between the Juve man and Messi.

Those suggestions were previously denied by the Barca star, with Tevez explaining:  "I missed the dressing room. I missed the guys. I missed this atmosphere.

"I'm 31 now, not 20 any more like I was before. Before I speak, I think about things. Before I spoke without knowing. That has made me more mature.

"You have to be intelligent when you get something wrong and try to always learn when you make a mistake. It's not good to make the same mistake twice and not learn."

Lionel Messi shocks the media

When the best player in the world talks about his football preferences, the sports media sits up and pays attention. And, having played against all of the best players in the world of his generation, it has come as a shock to many to see who he has chosen as the best goalkeeping performance that he has ever faced. British news outlet, The Scotsman quotes Messi as saying:

“There was one game in Scotland where he (Fraser Forster) was not human, it is the best goalkeeping performance I have seen.”

Looking back now it seems impossible that Celtic beat this pre-eminent Barcelona side in The Champions League. But, just a couple of years ago they did indeed win 2-1 against Barcelona in an atmosphere which will take some beating. Messi said of the fixture:

“The games against Celtic were special and I want to remember them. We know we would get a tough game if we drew them in the Champions League, but everybody involved in those Barcelona v Celtic games wants to go and play there again.

Forster was incredible that night and is a very highly regarded goalkeeper who has been competing seriously with Manchester City keeper Joe Hart for the number one jersey at international level for England.

But having faced the likes of Casillas, Van der Saar, Cech and Neuer in their prime, it’s still something of a surprise to hear the Barcelona man mark this game as the best goalkeeping performance that he has seen.

And it’s high praise indeed for Forster, who has been a big hit in England since his move to Southampton.

Let’s see the lad in action. Barcelona fans: could you see Forster playing for Barca one day?

Lionel Messi called the Ref a Motherf***er in Barcelona win at Celta Vigo (Video)

Lionel Messi’s potty mouth was recorded on Spanish TV over the weekend.

Barcelona maintained their four point lead over Real Madrid, as Luis Enrique’s side picked up a 1-0 win away at Celta Vigo on Sunday night.

On the same day that Cristiano Ronaldo scored five times against Granada, Messi failed to get on the scoresheet in the away win.

In one post match compilation of Messi’s performance at Celta, the Argentine was portrayed as a frustrated figure as the referee repeatedly ignored his claims for fouls.

At one free-kick Messi mouthed “Siempre lo mismo!” (‘always the same’) three times at the ref, while on another occasion Messi barked “La concha de tu madre! Hijo de puta!” (‘Mother f****r. Son of a bitch’).

Pique optimistic of Messi fitness against Celta Vigo

Gerard Pique expects Lionel Messi to be fit for Barcelona's trip to Celta Vigo despite his foot injury.

Messi missed Argentina's friendly victories over El Salvador and Ecuador due to swelling on his right foot, but Pique expects the 27-year-old to return for his club this weekend.

"I'm optimistic about Messi," said the defender. "I spoke with him and I think he'll be able to play at Balaidos [Celta's ground]. 

"But it depends on how he feels this week. 

"It's the team doctors who have to decide. But from what I can gather, he'll be okay."

Brazil great Pele says Messi has outperformed Ronaldo

Lionel Messi has proved himself as the best player in the world ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in the past 10 years, according to Brazil great Pele.

Players, pundits and fans alike have regularly debated whether Barcelona superstar Messi or Real Madrid counterpart Ronaldo should be regarded as the world's best player.

Argentina international Messi has won the FIFA Ballon d'Or award four times to Ronaldo's three, although the Portuguese has collected the prestigious award in the past two years.

Pele, regarded as the greatest of all time, has had his say and believes Messi has been the standout performer in the last decade.

Speaking to BBC Sportsweek, the three-time World Cup winner said: "At the moment people always try to compare Ronaldo with Messi [but] it's a different style.

"They are two great players, but in the past 10 years the best in the world was Messi."

Lionel Messi calls Manchester city goalkeeper Hart a 'phenomenon' after Barcelona triumph

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi described goalkeeper Joe Hart as a "phenomenon" following his performance in Manchester City's 1-0 UEFA Champions League defeat at Camp Nou.

Ivan Rakitic scored the only goal as Barca secured a 3-1 aggregate win on Wednesday, but the margin could have been greater had it not been for the heroics of the England number one - who saved a late penalty from Messi in the first leg last month.

Hart said it was an "honour" to pit his wits against Messi during a post-match interview, and the Argentina captain returned the praise with a glowing assessment of his opponent's display.

"Joe Hart had an absolutely fantastic game," Messi told UEFA.com. "I already knew he was a top keeper, but it was impressive in this performance how he just stopped everything that came his way, with either his hands or his body - he is a phenomenon.

"The fortunate thing, given all that, was we managed to get through the tie, which was all we wanted, so that we could be in Friday's quarter-final draw.

"These nights are just so tremendous to play in and wonderful for the public to watch, especially when the game is played like this.

"The opposition was full of great players and both teams just try to play really good, open football.

"Both City and Barcelona wanted to be on the ball, to do things with it, and it ended up as a pretty spectacular game."

Messi best of all-time - Luis Enrique

Barcelona star Lionel Messi is the best player of all-time, according to coach Luis Enrique.

The Argentine impressed as Barcelona claimed a 1-0 win over Manchester City in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday.

Messi set up Ivan Rakitic for the game's only goal at Camp Nou, where Barca completed a 3-1 aggregate victory after Sergio Aguero was denied from the penalty spot late on.

And Luis Enrique was unsurprisingly full of praise for Messi afterwards, labelling him the greatest of all-time.

"What Leo Messi is able to do is already known by everyone. He is the best player in the world, no doubt. Not just nowadays but also in history," he said.

"Obviously he gives us a lot, we've never hidden from this. It's a pleasure to have him at our club.

"Nevertheless, we need a solid team behind him in order to lift trophies. So we have to keep working as a team, something which I think we are already doing.

"I would praise every single player who has played tonight, even the players who have not played because they have been supporting the team.

"In general, I would congratulate every Barcelona supporter. It's a day to celebrate."

Former Barca midfielder and coach Pep Guardiola - now in charge of Bayern Munich - was an interested onlooker on Wednesday, celebrating Rakitic's goal and marvelling at Messi's magic.

Luis Enrique said he would definitely exchange texts with the 44-year-old "Barcelona fan".

"I haven't had the chance to talk with Pep. I've seen him on TV inside the stadium," he said.

"He is a Barcelona fan at the end of the day. I don't know if we will talk, it depends on what happens in the draw and many other things. We will exchange texts for sure.

"We will wait for the draw and as soon as we know which teams we will both face, then we will say it's the best draw we could have."

Basile: Messi does not need World Cup win

Former Argentina coach Alfio Basile does not believe Lionel Messi needs to win the World Cup to cement his legacy.

Messi has enjoyed huge levels of club success with Barcelona, winning every domestic trophy in Spain and the UEFA Champions League on three occasions.

He was named player of the tournament at last year's World Cup but left disappointed as Argentina lost the final 1-0 to Germany after extra time.

Basile coached Messi during his second stint as Argentina coach from 2006 to 2008, having previously led his country to Copa America success in 1991 and 1993.

And he told Perform: "The problem Messi has is that people want him to win it [the World Cup] because they think he will then become even better.

"But although he is not a world champion, Messi is a phenomenon." soccerway reports