Guardiola dismisses Messi links
Pep Guardiola has again insisted he does not want Lionel Messi to leave Barcelona despite speculation he could join Manchester City at the end of the season.
A turbulent week at Camp Nou on and off the pitch has seen Messi's future come under scrutiny.
The club captain called out first-team technical secretary Eric Abidal on social media after the former Barca defender suggested some players had downed tools during Ernesto Valverde's final weeks as head coach.
Messi's response, in which he accused Abidal of "dirtying" the squad and urged him to name names in his criticism, has led to talk that he could utilise his option to have his contract cancelled at the end of 2019-2020 and walk away from Barca for free.
Friday's (AEDT) Copa del Rey exit at the hands of Athletic Bilbao has only heightened the uncertainty around Messi's future, with City reportedly monitoring the situation with a view to making him an offer.
But Guardiola has always previously maintained he would not bring Messi to Manchester, and the former Barca boss made it clear again again that he expects the 32-year-old to finish his career at Camp Nou.
"Messi is a player for Barcelona," Guardiola said ahead of Monday's (AEDT) Premier League game against West Ham United.
"He will stay there. That is my wish. I am not going to talk about players at another club.
"I think he will finish his career there."
