Barcelona Transfer News: Lionel Messi Sale Reportedly Planned by Board

Barcelona Transfer News: Lionel Messi Sale Reportedly Planned by Board

Spanish radio station Cope has reported the Barcelona board plans to sell Lionel Messi before the club's presidential election in 2016 (h/t 101 Great Goals).

Interesting storylines are presented by the aforementioned source. The most pressing of all is that Messi is reportedly unhappy at having his commitment to the Blaugrana questioned, while he is also "envious" of the way Real Madrid treat Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi recently provided potential suitors with an unlikely smidgen of hope when he said that things are "complicated" in football. Though he also stated that would love to remain with Barcelona for the rest of his career, he admitted that he knows a prolonged tenure isn't guaranteed. Messi's comments were reported by Ole (via Ben Jefferson of the Express)::

Football takes many turns...While I always said that I would always stay there, sometimes not everything happens the way you want. I've said it many times: if I had my way I would stay forever. But as I just said, it's not always given that you get everything you like. 

Jorge Messi, the player's father and agent, admitted "people like to read between lines and exaggerate," reported by La Vanguardia (h/t Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star). Even so, he left the option for his son's departure open: "Leo is happy, but it’s clear that if the club receives an offers tomorrow and says 'we want to sell you', well then we’d have to study it."

Understandably, such comments and reports will have many Barcelona fans questioning exactly what is going on. Moises Llorensof AS suggests Leo's decision to light the "fuse" before his father wades in amounts to "history" repeating itself. As such, Llorens reports that the Barca board has decided "only a public request from the player stating that he wants to leave the club would open the door."

It is always difficult to assess Messi's future. He is so synonymous with Barcelona that many supporters will get angry at the mere thought of the player leaving. The Argentinian could fund an entire new line-up if he is sold, but still, it would be a team without the player who is arguably the most important in Barca's history.

Centre-back Marc Barta recently admitted that he "can't imagine a Barca without Messi," per Didac Piferrer of Marca. The mini maestro's association with the Camp Nou club is so strong that many will feel the same.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti believes Messi's comments are normal. "Cristiano [Ronaldo] said the same three or four years ago," noted the Italian, reported by Marca. "Every player goes through the same thing during his career, although things can change very quickly."

Perhaps Messi is laying the groundwork for an improved contract, or maybe he genuinely is considering a spell away from Catalonia. He would certainly be wise to leave his options open and may be frustrated by the club's decision to spend big on Neymar and Luis Suarez.

Former president Sandro Rosell was at the heart of the former deal, a man Messi reportedly didn't see eye to eye with, so the player may hold some animosity toward the powers that be (despite Rosell's departure). He appears to be someone who needs to be loved and appreciated wholeheartedly to produce his best form.

Messi continues to post excellent numbers this season; he has scored 11 and assisted nine goals in 15 matches across La Liga and the Champions League thus far, per WhoScored.com.

He trails behind Ronaldo, but Madrid are currently at the peak of their powers while Barca progress along the transitional road. Messi himself continues to have an impact, underlining his importance to Luis Enrique's side and, indeed, the club moving forward.

While Cope's report appears premature—it is extremely troublesome to suggest Messi's sale would be preempted so early—his extended presence in Barcelona certainly doesn't seem as guaranteed as it once did. There are perhaps only three realistic suitors, however—Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Chelsea—all of whom would risk breaking UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules by bringing him in.

It seems more likely that if Messi is to exit, he would head home to Argentina. Newell's Old Boys are waiting and could offer the iconic footballer an excellent opportunity to see out his final years away from the hubbub of Europe.

This conclusion would certainly rile Barca fans less than if Messi were sold to one of the club's Champions League rivals.