It's no secret that Lionel Messi has been critical about Barcelona lately and there are talks that the team captain could leave the Catalans this summer. One possible destination for the Argentine superstar is Inter Milan but the club's boss is already saying that getting Messi is next to impossible.
Rumors of Messi joining a new team next season have been swirling following his very public spat with Barcelona officials in recent months. And when Real Madrid captured the La Liga title earlier this July, the Barca skipper did not hide his disappointment, again fueling speculations that he is ready to walk away from the club that he played for in nearly two decades.
As if playing up on the gossips, Inter's promotion of the club's upcoming clash with Napoli included an image of Messi projected into the Duomo de Milano. Italian reports said it was a publicity stunt by Inter officials and it was clarified later on that there was no possibility of the Barcelona star signing up with the club anytime soon.
Inter said Messi in Serie A next season remains "a fantasy football" and team manager Antonio Conte can only agree.
"It'd be easier to move the Duomo than to bring Messi to Inter," Goal reported Conte as saying.
The club boss was commenting on the circulating stories that Inter would be willing to swap players for the chance to sign the Barca icon. Conte described the suggested scenarios as high improbable, adding he is satisfied with the Inter roster and he intends to keep them.
The Inter boss declared: "I am holding on tight to my players, as they are giving their all, I can guarantee that."
True enough, Inter can boast of a player that is likened by pundits to Messi. Lautaro Martinez has been playing brilliantly in the season that Barcelona took notice. It is said that the Catalan giants are targeting to sign the 22-year-old at the behest of his fellow Argentine.
Conte, however, is unlikely to cede an inch of his position to keep his lineup intact.
Meanwhile, the situation in Camp Nou remains uneasy and former Barcelona star Xavi is not hiding his dream of taking over from embattled manager Quique Setien soon. The club legend said coaching Barcelona is his ultimate goal but he respects the man who is in charge of the side at the moment.
"When [the] Barcelona [job] comes, short or long term, it'll come. Above all, you have to respect Quique Setien and I wish the team the best," Forbes reported Xavi as saying.
The 40-year-old also touched on the possibility that Messi will still represent Argentina in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Xavi said Messi is physically able and competitive enough to be part of the competition.
