Liverpool's Andrew Robertson: 'I don't want Lionel Messi anywhere near the Premier League'

Argentine forward last month handed in a transfer request to leave Barcelona, with Manchester City thought to be favourites for his signature

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  768 - With his appearance against Real Sociedad on March 21, 2021, Lionel Messi became Barcelona's all-time appearance record-holder, overtaking Xavi. He scored twice in Barca's 6-1 win. AFP

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  LIONEL MESSI'S BARCELONA RECORDS: 6 - Most Copa del Rey finals scored in: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019. Reuters

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  34 - Most trophies won as a Barcelona player. Reuters

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  513 - Most matches won with Barcelona. EPA

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  48 - Most hat-tricks scored in all competitions for Barcelona. EPA

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  15 - First player to score in 15 consecutive seasons of the UEFA Champions League. AFP

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  7 - Most Pichichi Trophies (top scorer in La Liga): 2010, 2012–2013, 2017–2020. Reuters

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  37 - Most opponents scored against in La Liga history. AFP

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  Only player to be top goalscorer and top assist provider in the same season: (2018–20). EPA

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  361 - Most La Liga victories. EPA

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  16 - Most dribbles completed in a UEFA Champions League game. AFP

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  27 - Most league matches scored in a season (38 games): 2012–13. EPA

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  19 - Most teams scored against in a season: 2012–13. AFP

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  75 - Most appearances in the Copa del Rey for Barcelona. AFP

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  47 - Most goals scored from a free kick in official competitions for Barcelona. Reuters

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  38 - Most stadiums scored at in La Liga. Reuters

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  485 - Most La Liga appearances by a foreign player. AFP

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  150 - First player to reach 150 La Liga assists. AFP

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  4 - Most Man of the Match awards won in one FIFA World Cup: in 2014. AFP

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  6 - Only player to score in six different club competitions in a calendar year twice: 2011 and 2015. Reuters

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  First player ever to score consecutively against all teams in a professional league (2012-2013). EPA

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  4 - Only player to provide at least one assist in four World Cup tournaments. AFP

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  13 - Most appearances in the FIFPro World11: (2007–2019). EPA

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  11 - Most appearances on a video game cover by a football player. AFP

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  334 - Fastest player ever to reach 300 goals in Europe's top five leagues. AFP

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  10 - Most Man of the Match awards won in Copa América matches. AP Photo

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  115 - Most goals scored for a single club in the UEFA Champions League. AFP

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  435 - Fastest player ever to reach 400 goals in Europe's top five leagues. AFP

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  5 - Most goals scored in a European Cup/Champions League game, against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012. AFP

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  110 - Most dribbles completed at the World Cup finals. AFP

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  123 - Fastest player to reach 100 UEFA Champions League goals. AFP

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  68 - Most goals scored in the UEFA Champions League group stage. AFP

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  5 - Only player to provide at least one assist in five Copa América tournaments. AFP

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  3 - Most UEFA/UEFA.com Goal of the Season awards: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2018–19. AFP

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  6 - Most Best Player in La Liga awards: 2009–2013; 2015. AFP

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  12 - Top assist provider in Copa America history. AP Photo

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  21 - Most goals in CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifiers. AFP

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  6 - Most Ballons d'Or: 2009–2012; 2015; 2019. AFP

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  Messi is the only player ever to score in his teens, his 20s, and his 30s at the World Cup. He first scored at the 2006 FIFA World Cup as a 19-year-old in Argentina's 6-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro, then five times in 2014, and once in 2018. AFP

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  6 - Most FIFA World Player of the Year/Best FIFA Men's Player Awards: 2009–2012; 2015; 2019. AFP

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  444 - Most goals in La Liga. AFP

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  50 - goals in a La Liga and European league season. Reuters

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  8 - Most Champions League hat-tricks. AFP

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  183 - Most assists in La Liga. AFP

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  7 - La Liga Best Forward titles ( 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16). AFP

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  36 - Most hat-tricks in La Liga. AFP

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  300 - Most recorded assists in football history. AFP

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  91 - goals in a calendar year (2012) - 79 with Barca (59 in La Liga, 13 in the Champions League, 5 in the Copa del Rey and 2 in the Spanish Super Cup) plus 12 with the Argentina national side.

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  6 - European Golden Shoes for top scorer in European football. AFP

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  60 - Only player to score 60+ goals in all competitions in 2 consecutive seasons: (2011–12 and 2012–13). AFP

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  10 - Only player to score more than 40 goals in 10 consecutive seasons. AFP

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  79 - Top goalscorer in all club competitions in a calendar year (2012). AFP

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  21 - Longest goalscoring run in a domestic league: 33 goals in 2012–13. Reuters

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  7 - Only player to score in seven official competitions in one calendar year: 2015, in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League, Copa America, UEFA Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. Reuters

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  70 - Argentina all-time top scorer. EPA

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  27 - Top goalscorer in El Clásico. EPA

Liverpool full-back Andrew Robertson has jokingly said he would prefer Lionel Messi to stay at Barcelona to avoid strengthening Premier League title rivals Manchester City.

Messi last month handed in a transfer request at Barcelona, setting into motion an ongoing saga regarding his future.

The Argentine forward's father and agent, Jorge Messi, is in Barcelona to hold talks with the club's president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Messi, 33, has entered the final year of his deal at the Camp Nou and believes he has the right to leave for free this summer due to a stipulation in his contract. Barca, meanwhile, are adamant the clause is not valid and are demanding the €700 million buyout clause is met in order to facilitate a transfer.

Should Messi leave Barcelona, Manchester City - and a reunion with Pep Guardiola - are thought to be the frontrunners.

After Jurgen Klopp categorically ruled Liverpool out of signing Messi, Robertson, who came face to face with the Argentine during the 2019 Champions League semi-finals, made his thoughts clear on where he wants the six-time Ballon d'Or winner to be playing next season.

"I think Liverpool have ruled out that we could sign him so I don't want him anywhere near the Premier League and hopefully it stays that way," Robertson, 26, said.

"I've played against him twice and it's the hardest games I've ever played."

Unsurprisingly, Messi's teammate Antoine Griezmann also wants him to remain at the Camp Nou.

"We are trying to stay updated with the issue, but it is between him and the club," the French forward said.

"We only hope that he stays. I am trying to stay focused on the national team and prepare well for the next two games. We have heard a little of everything but we don't know anything else about all this affair."