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Barcelona transfer news: Lionel Messi addresses move speculation - EXCLUSIVE
LIONEL MESSI insists he will not discuss his Barcelona future during the World Cup.
Lionel Messi only signed a new contract at Barcelona last year in a deal that runs until 2021.
But that has not prevented speculation that the Argentina superstar could quit the club.
Messi is supposedly paid as much as €2m a week to represent Barca.
Were he to leave the club only one of the world’s elite sides would be able to afford him, unless he takes a pay cut.
Messi spoke to Express Sport just two days before the start of the World Cup in Russia, where he will be looking to go one further than four years ago when Argentina lost in the final.
READ THE FULL LIONEL MESSI INTERVIEW HERE
I’m only concerned about the present
And he shut down talk over his transfer plans.
“I don’t want to speak about my future,” he said.
“For now I’m only concerned about the present and doing the best I can in this World Cup.
“For Argentina the World Cup is special and it’s a big dream to lift the cup again.
“For me it would fulfil a childhood dream and so you can be sure I will give it everything.”
First up for Argentina at the World Cup this summer is a group game with Iceland on Saturday (2pm).
They then face Croatia and Nigeria as Messi and co. look to escape Group D.