Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu insists that Lionel Messi is happy at the club, and suggests external issues including his tax issues were behind suggestions the 26-year-old could leave the Camp Nou in the coming years.
Messi's future has again become the subject of debate this week in the wake of the Argentina captain telling Ole that he was just focusing on this season at Barca, adding: "Although I have always said I would like to stay there forever, sometimes everything does not always go as you want."
These comments have been widely taken -- especially in the Madrid media -- as evidence that the four-time Ballon d'Or winner was feeling under-appreciated by some at the Camp Nou.
The forward's father Jorge did little to quell the speculation by saying that if the Barca board decided to accept an offer from elsewhere, then a move would be considered.
Blaugrana chief Bartomeu, however, has played down situation on Catalan station 8TV, saying that Messi was "delighted" at Barca, and suggests off-field concerns were behind the player's comments.
"Leo is under a lot of pressure off the field," Bartomeu said. "I have spoken with his father, Jorge, two days ago and my impression is that nothing has changed, he is happy at Barca, and his comments say that clearly -- he wants to win everything.
"He has not asked us for a new contract. No, no. He is happy. From inside the club we will always help the player. [Former Barca coach Pep] Guardiola already said it a few years ago, Leo must be happy at Barca."
The Blaugrana chief believes that the current speculation was just a typical move by anti-Barca elements who are trying to unsettle his side's best player.
"Another thing is that he is sensitive about things from outside," Bartomeu said. "There is more talk about his vomiting on the pitch, for example, than on [Telmo] Zarra's record. And although other players have other situations, there is only talk about Leo and the taxman. They want to beat him off the pitch. On the pitch he is No. 1."
Speaking at Thursday's post-training news conference, Messi's colleague for club and country Javier Mascherano also said the Ole interview had been blown out of all proportion by other media.
"Leo has always said that he wants to end his career at Barcelona," Mascherano said. "The reality is he said nothing strange. He said what all footballers think. In football you cannot project forward what you will do in six years, you do not know what you will do in the future. That is the reality."
Such playing down of the situation at the Camp Nou has not stopped the frenzied speculation, especially in the Madrid-based media.
AS have calculated that Messi would cost Barca 192 million euros to keep until end of his contract in 2018, while suggesting some on the Blaugrana board are wondering if he is worth the outlay.
Marca claim that the Messi family is upset that Barca are not pushing the forward for this year's Ballon d'Or prize in the same way as Madrid are promoting Cristiano Ronaldo.
El Pais also suggest the serial winner is unhappy at a general drop of standards all round at the Camp Nou, and would seriously consider a move next summer should the current season end in more failure.
Mundo Deportivo -- whose editorial line often aligns with that of the Camp Nou board -- have a surprising story on how Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has always wanted to sign Messi.
The report includes a suggestion that Adidas -- Real's sponsors -- would help finance a move to steal the crown jewel of Nike -- Barca's sponsors. That story says the potential deal would only take place in 2016, when the present board's term ends.