Lionel Messi hinted that his future with FC Barcelona is uncertain, creating speculation that the superstar forward will eventually move to another top-tier team next summer.
Reports indicated that several teams, including Real Madrid, are expected to make a strong push to acquire Messi if he becomes available on the transfer market. Aside from Real Madrid, sources suggested that Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in Messi.
But will he leave FC Barcelona after spending his entire club career at Camp Nou?
In an interview with Argentine newspaper Ole, Messi said that he is focused on his campaign with Barca this season, but he admitted that things could change next summer.
"I am thinking about having a great year and winning the trophies we want at Barcelona - nothing else," Messi said. "Later, we will see. In football, things change all the time. Although I have always said I would like to stay there forever, sometimes everything does not always go as you want."
Messi signed a new deal with Barca earlier this month, which will run until June 2018. According to previous reports, Messi is receiving 20 million Euros per season with a release clause of 250 million Euros.
The Argentine superstar, whose relationship with FC Barcelona top officials is reportedly strained over the past several months, said that he wants to finish his career with Barca, but admitted that there are factors that are out of his control.
"I have said it many times, if it were for me, I would stay forever," Messi said. "But as I said before, everything does not always come out as you want - even more in football, which changes so much and in which so many things can happen. It is complicated, even more given what is happening today at Barcelona."
Messi's father, Lionel Sr., said in an interview that they are not yet thinking about a possible move because they are focused on their campaign this season, but hinted that they would consider making a move if the opportunity arrives.
"Leo is happy, but it is clear that if tomorrow the club says, 'we have this offer, we want to sell you,' well then we would have to study it," Messi Sr. said via ESPN FC. "But as of today, we are not even thinking about that."
