Messi to leave Barca? United could be his only destination
The speculation over Lionel Messi's future at Barcelona continues.
He might have recently denied that he was looking to leave the Catalonian giants amid rumours of unrest in the Nou Camp dressing room, but the Argentinean's latest statements at the Ballon d'Or award ceremony suggest that his future at the Barca still looks far from certain.
Not sure
Speaking in Zurich where he lost out on football's biggest individual prize to Cristiano Ronaldo for a second year running, Messi said: "I am not sure If I will go back to Newell's Old Boys one day.
"I am not sure where I will be next year. I have always said that I will end my career at Barcelona but as Cristiano said: 'Only God knows the future.'
"Things in football can change overnight."
Financial power
Messi's noncommittal and cryptic musings will reportedly set Manchester United on red alert as they are the only club that can realistically afford to buy him, according to The Guardian.
Despite rumours linking Messi to Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, United are the only club with the financial might capable of shelling out the 250 million euros ($394m) up front required to activate the forward's buyout clause at Barca.
United fans who dream of Messi donning their famous red jersey should probably not get too carried away just yet, however, as Messi's insistence that he would like to see out his career with Barcelona could mean that any potential deal has a long way to go before becoming a reality.
Sources: BBC, The Guardian
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