Lionel Messi maintains he is in no rush to decide his future at Barcelona and has revealed that he would like to play in the US before finishing his career.
The Argentine has yet to make up his mind if he will terminate his two-decade long relationship with Barca at the end of the season.
His current deal existing deal expires at the end of this campaign, meaning he can begin negotiations with overseas clubs in January.
Messi has been linked with a move to Premier League side Manchester City, who are managed by his former Camp Nou coach Pep Guardiola. He won three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues in his four seasons under the Catalonian.
And the 33-year-old fuelled speculation that reunion might be on the cards when he described himself as "lucky" to have played under Guardiola, who has just signed a new deal to remain at City until at least 2023.
Speaking to Spanish TV channel La Sexta, though, Messi also insisted that he was "excited" to play under manager Ronald Koeman this season, despite trying last summer to leave the club where he has played his entire senior career.
"Barca is my life, I'm in love with the club. And the city, my children were born here," Messi, who has just broken Pele's record for most goals scored for a single club, said in the interview conducted earlier this month.
"It's true I had a bad time in the summer. It came from everything that happened before the summer, how the season ended, the burofax [how Messi communicated his desire to leave], all of that. I carried that into the start of the season a little bit."
Messi dismissed suggestions of exercising his option of a free transfer in the summer, insisting: "Far from it – my plan is to give all I can for the club at the moment. Right now, the most important thing is to focus on the team and finish the season well, to focus on trying to win trophies and not get distracted by other things.
"I don't know what I'm going to do yet. I'm going to wait until the season ends.
"I would like to play in the United States and experience life and the league there, but ultimately come back to Barcelona in some capacity.
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Messi, Pogba and 21 possible New Year transfers
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1). Lionel Messi. No player will generate more transfer speculation in January than Barcelona’s Argentine superstar. Messi attempted to engineer an exit during the delayed off-season but there was debate over the validity of the exit clause in his contract. Since then, Barca have hardly done much to convince their captain to sign a new deal, with the club struggling in La Liga. It would be astounding if Messi left in January, but he will be free to discuss terms with other clubs. Where he could end up looks to be down to just a few options. Potential destinations: Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. AP -
2). Paul Pogba. Close behind Messi on the transfer rumour mill will surely be Manchester United’s French midfielder. His agent made it abundantly clear that his client is desperate to leave Old Trafford and it would be in everyone’s best interests to make that move happen. While he has so far struggled to justify his £100m transfer fee, Pogba remains a coveted and highly-rated player. Potential destinations: Juventus, Real Madrid, PSG. AFP -
3). David Alaba. Bayern Munich’s Austrian defender looks destined to leave the Bundesliga champions after a breakdown in talks over a new deal. At 28, Alaba, who operates at both left- and centre-back, is in his prime and is sure to attract plenty of interest from big European clubs. A January move could be on the cards or could be a time when Alaba confirms his next employer for next season. Potential destinations: Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Chelsea. Getty Images -
4). Memphis Depay. Lyon’s Dutch forward was on the brink of joining Barcelona on deadline day in the summer, but the move ultimately fell through. As Depay enters the final six months of his contract, it’s widely expected that Barca will revive their interest and seek a cut-price deal in January. Potential destinations: Barcelona. EPA -
5). Georginio Wijnaldum. Amid Liverpool’s rush to tie first-team players to new contracts over the past year, the Dutch midfielder has been the one notable exception. Wijnaldum is a key player for the Premier League champions but negotiations over a new deal have reportedly broken down over his desire for a four-year contract. It could pave the way for Wijnaldum to leave Anfield in January, or at the least agree terms with another club. Potential destinations: Barcelona, Inter Milan. AFP -
6). Florian Thauvin. Newcastle fans will remember the French forward unfavourably but he has been a star for Marseille since his move to the south of France in 2017. However, his future looks set to be away from the Velodrome, with AC Milan admitting their interest. The Serie A side will reportedly face competition from La Liga’s Sevilla. Potential destinations: AC Milan, Sevilla. AFP -
7). Angel Di María. The Argentine attacking midfielder has been a stalwart for PSG but has recently been dropped over a loss of form. As Di Maria enters the final six months of his contract, his future appears elsewhere, with two Serie A giants reportedly interested. Potential destinations: Juventus, Inter Milan. AFP -
8). Hakan Calhanoglu. AC Milan are said to be growing increasingly concerned that the Turkish midfielder has yet to sign an extension to the contract that expires next summer. Should the stand-off continue into January, there is one Premier League club who are, according to reports, ready to make a move. Potential destinations: Manchester United. Getty Images -
9). Julian Draxler. A perennial squad player for much of his time at PSG, the German winger looks set to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season. There is also a possibility that he could depart in January, with reports claiming two clubs are interested in signing Draxler during the mid-season window. Potential destinations: Sevilla, Hertha Berlin. Reuters -
10). Eric Garcia. Like Depay, Manchester City’s Spanish defender was also on the verge of joining Barcelona in the summer. Having started the season with his share of match action, Garcia has slipped down the pecking order following the arrival of Ruben Dias. Injury has also hampered his cause. With his contract running down, Barca could look to secure a deal in January. Potential destinations: Barcelona. Getty Images -
11). Riqui Puig. Not long ago, the young Spanish midfielder was expected to form the future of Barcelona, but Puig has failed to impress manager Ronald Koeman. As his contract enters its last six months, reports say a move to the Premier League could happen, although the Barcelona hierarchy might step in and block any potential exit. Potential destinations: Leeds United. Getty Images -
12). Joshua King. One of Bournemouth’s stars during their stint in the Premier League remained at the club following relegation, but his future looks set to be back in the top-flight with two clubs linked with making a move for the Norwegian forward, who is in the final year of his contract. Potential destinations: West Ham, Newcastle. Reuters -
13). Christian Eriksen. The Danish playmaker’s “dream” move to Inter Milan has quickly turned into a nightmare and if recent comments are to be believed, Eriksen will leave the San Siro in January. There has been plenty of speculation regarding Eriksen’s next destination, much of it focused on a return to the Premier League. Potential destinations: Manchester United, Arsenal. Getty Images -
14). Yves Bissouma. The Ivory Coast midfielder has been one of the few positives in a drab season for Brighton & Hove Albion, and his performances have reportedly been noticed by some big clubs. Brighton will be loath to lose one of their star players in the middle of a season that’s shaping up to be a relegation dogfight but, then again, money talks. Potential destinations: Manchester United, Liverpool, Real Madrid. Reuters -
15). Philippe Coutinho. Another dream move that quickly turned sour, the Brazilian midfielder’s time at Barcelona has fallen short of expectations. With the club in a desperate financial situation, they are reportedly eager to cut their losses and sell Coutinho in January. Suitors may be an issue, though, given his wage demands. Still, there have been some clubs linked. Potential destinations: Arsenal, Juventus. EPA -
16). Mesut Ozil. It's been a disastrous season for both player and club as Arsenal continue to slide while the German playmaker sits idly at home, excluded from their Premier League squad. Manager Mikel Arteta could look to reintegrate Ozil in January but would rather sell Arsenal’s highest-paid player. That might be easier said than done. Potential destinations: Fenerbahce. Getty Images -
17). Divock Origi. The Belgian forward has never been central to Jurgen Klopp’s plans and his place in the pecking order has fallen further since the arrival of Diogo Jota. Reports have emerged claiming he could be set for a January exit. Potential destinations: Wolves, West Ham. Reuters -
18). Arkadiusz Milik. The Polish striker has been one of Napoli’s most consistent performers since his arrival in 2016, either side of a season-ending ACL injury. However, Milik has been excluded from the squad this season after refusing to sign a new contract and a January exit appears inevitable. According to reports, there will be no shortage of takers. Potential destinations: Everton, Atletico Madrid, Juventus. Getty Images -
19). Sami Khedira. The veteran German midfielder has found game time limited at Juventus this season, and with his contract winding down, reports claim a surprise move to the Premier League, and a reunion with a former manager, could come about in January. Potential destinations: Everton. Getty Images -
20). Dele Alli. Tottenham’s English midfielder has seen his influence diminish this season due to a loss of form and rumours persist that he could leave the Premier League club in January. A loan with an option to buy looks more likely at this stage. Potential destinations: Everton, PSG. AFP -
21). Patrick van Aanholt. The Dutch full-back may be one of the most underrated players in the Premier League, and with his Crystal Palace contract set to expire next summer, speculation suggests he could be on the move in January. It would be a big blow to Palace. Potential destinations: Ajax. Getty Images
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"I don't see myself as a coach, perhaps a sporting director to hire players I want or that the club that I'm at needs."
Messi's commitment is a far cry from the summer when he looked certain to leave the club after falling out with the club hierarchy and branding Josep Maria Bartomeu's presidency a "disaster".
Ultimately, Messi claimed he decided not to pursue a legal battle to leave out of respect for the club, but reiterated the depth of his feelings about Bartomeu's reign at the time.
"It was far from easy for me to say I wanted to leave the club and the city ... but I genuinely felt it was time to go," said Messi.
"I felt I'd completed a cycle and it was time to leave the club that had given me so much.
"I wanted to win titles and battle for the Champions League and felt it was time for change. The president then started to filter this and that to paint a negative picture of me."
Bartomeu stepped down in October and a new president will be elected on January 24, although Messi said he is under no illusions over the position Barca find themselves in, with the financial problems exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
"I know the club is going through a difficult period and that makes everything surrounding Barcelona difficult, but I am motivated," he said.
He described Barca's situation as "really bad" and poured scorn on the idea that Neymar could make a shock return to Catalonia. "To do that you need money, and there is no money. Neymar would cost a lot," Messi said.
