MESSI NOT FOR SELL

The Blaugrana president has attempted to play down suggestions the club's star man wants to leave Camp Nou Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has
dismissed suggestions Lionel Messi is looking to leave the club and played down talk of a rift
between the Argentina superstar and coach Luis Enrique.
Speculation that Messi and Luis Enrique are at loggerheads has intensified following Luis
Enrique's decision to leave Messi, and his fellow South Americans Neymar and Dani Alves, on the
bench for Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Real Sociedad. Messi then missed training the following day with
the club claiming he was suffering from gastroenteritis

Luis Enrique insisted earlier on Wednesday his
relationship with Messi was identical to when he
took over at the start of the season and Bartomeu feels the gossip should end there.
Speaking at a press conference to announce the club had brought forward their presidential
elections to this summer, he said: "I can't come out every day to deny every rumor floating around
the club. Lionel Messi has a contract, he's happy
here and keen to win more titles. There's nothing
to panic about in that regard.

"The dressing room is a sacred place. Many
things can happen there but they stay there. Lionel Messi is the leader of our team. He is our
best player and we are counting on his services."
Asked how he knew Messi was happy with life at

Barca, he added: "You just need to watch him on
the pitch, he is not the player of last season.

"Everyone in football knows Barca does not want
to sell Messi. So there is no issue."
As for the speculation, he said: "The stories are
written to create conflict when conflict does not
exist. But these are questions you have to direct
at Luis Enrique and Messi.

"These are matters that Luis Enrique has made
clear are best kept within the squad. I am in
contact with them and the message I am getting
is they are working well and trying to win titles."

Bartomeu has denied Luis Enrique's position is under threat and backed the former Roma boss
to turn the club's fortunes around.
"Luis Enrique has a project he's working on at
the moment, he's restructuring the team. He has
a job to do and we still think he's the perfect person for this position."
It has been a difficult week for Barca and Bartomeu, who, on Monday, sacked director o football Andoni Zubizarreta. Zubizarreta had, the
previous night, made clear he felt Bartomeu
should shoulder most of the blame for the club's
two-window transfer ban for breaches of transfer
regulations.

Bartomeu said; "Some associate Zubi's exit wit the FIFA ban but I don't. Zubizarreta had no
responsibility for the transfers of those kids. The new director of football will be someone
from inside the club or someone who knows the
club. We will not bring someone in from the
outside."

source  goal.com

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