Did Lionel Messi nix contract talks with Barcelona?

Lionel Messi’s future at FC Barcelona was the subject of heated speculation on Monday, after a Spanish newspaper claimed the Argentinean superstar had backed away from plans to agree a new contract.

Messi, the 29-year-old five-time world footballer of the year, has been with Barcelona since he was 12, and has been expected to agree a lucrative extension to his existing deal, which runs out in 2018.

However, the newspaper Marca, citing "unnamed sources," insisted Messi’s representatives have told club officials Messi would not be signing, and was planning to reevaluate his options at the end of his contract.

The issue is particularly significant given the recent moves made by Barcelona’s big rival, Real Madrid, to extend the agreements of several key players, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

Furthermore, Messi has been the cornerstone of the Barca side since his teenage years, and the thought of him playing elsewhere, even at the age of 31 in two years time, would be unsettling for the club’s fans.

The Marca report said Messi’s legal issues – he was given a 21-month suspended sentence by a Spanish court after being found guilty of taxation fraud – had prompted his decision.

Soon though, reports in Spain’s Sport newspaper and Argentina-based publication Ole contradicted those Marca, claiming that there had been no breakdown in relations between Messi and the club and that a fresh agreement could soon be expected.

Messi has had some frustrations of late. Barcelona is two points behind Real Madrid in the Spanish league, while Argentina has endured a miserable spell in World Cup qualifying, languishing in sixth place in the CONMEBOL (South America) standings ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Colombia.