Monday 12 January 2015 22:27, UK
Lionel Messi has admitted he could one day leave Barcelona – just hours after calling transfer rumours "all lies".
Messi gave an interview to Barca's television channel on Sunday and specifically addressed reports linking him with Chelsea and Manchester City, even going as far as to say: "I have no intention of leaving anywhere."
But the Argentina star sounded less certain when discussing his future ahead of Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony, where he was in contention to win the award for a fifth time.
Asked whether he might one day return to hometown club Newell's Old Boys, Messi said: "I'm not sure what's going to happen – if one day I'll go back to Newell's. I'm not sure where I'll be next year!
"I've always said I'd like to finish my career at Barcelona, play at Newell's, but nobody knows what the future holds – much less so in the case of the football world where so many things can change overnight."
Ballon d'Or rival Cristiano Ronaldo, sitting alongside Messi and Manuel Neuer at a question-and-answer session for the three nominees, was equally non-committal when asked about his Real Madrid future.
Spanish football expert Graham Hunter says he cannot see Messi leaving Barcelona and believes the latest comments are likely part of a ploy to gain more influence at the club.
"He in is in the middle of the powerplay at the moment, he is not completely happy with the team’s level of competitiveness and he has some difficulties with the man-management style of (Barcelona head coach) Luis Enrique," Hunter told Sky Sports News HQ.
"He is showing he is a mature player now and all he has to do is cough, nudge and hint and things happen.
"I don’t believe that he wants to leave, I do believe he wants to influence the club in how it’s run to make it more competitive."
The climate of the situation has been an arm wrestle with the club, and Messi has won it.
Hunter’s fellow Spanish football expert Guillem Balague also believes that Messi’s comments were tactically motivated as part of a power struggle within Barcelona.
Balague said: "(Messi) is confident, now he can talk without being too shy about it. He wanted to get something off his chest. He was upset that some of the stories, false stories, came from Barcelona newspapers.
"He didn't deny all of the stories written about him. For instance he didn't say Luis Enrique should be here forever. Today in the press conference (before the Ballon d'Or), he says ‘you never know what happens in the future’.
"The climate of the situation has been an arm wrestle with the club, and Messi has won it. He has won it because the coach is in a weak position and could go before next season.
"Everything Pep Guardiola did was for Messi, Luis Enrique is not having that."
