Lionel Messi's father says his son is happy at Barcelona, but if the club were to accept an offer from elsewhere then a move would be considered.
Messi Jr. re-opened the debate over his future this week when he surprisingly suggested to Argentine newspaper Ole that he could leave the Camp Nou next summer, in quotes which suggested he felt he was being pushed away by some inside the Catalan club.
The news has been met with huge concern among Blaugrana fans and pundits, even though the Argentina captain signed a new long-term contract at Barca in the summer.
Mundo Deportivo's front cover on Wednesday morning read: "Messi warning," while fellow Catalan daily Sport went for: "Messi worry."
Atención a Messi #portada #deportes http://t.co/GPCXKxfAgZ pic.twitter.com/tkg4NgTSUs
- Mundo Deportivo (@mundodeportivo) November 19, 2014
In an apparent attempt to calm the furore, Messi Sr. spoke to La Vanguardia to say that his son was not currently thinking about leaving Barca.
However, the comments, picked up by Mundo Deportivo, do suggest that the Messi camp would be willing to consider a move.
"As of today there is nothing at all," Messi Sr. said. "The thought is to stay here, but as people read between lines there is exaggeration. 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. But as of today, we are not even thinking about that."
Messi Jr.'s relationship with the Barca board has often appeared strained through recent times, with the player and his family reportedly feeling a lack of support from the hierarchy at the club, while the forward released a statement even after signing his new contract suggesting he was still not 100 percent happy to be staying.
Different tax issues with the Spanish authorities have also been seen as an issue of concern for both Lionel and Jorge.
The 27-year-old's current contract pays him about 20 million euros a year, runs until 2018 and contains a 250 million-euro release clause. Even that huge price, however, may not be enough to put off interested parties who could include Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and rivals Real Madrid.