Lionel Messi's future at Barcelona appears to be far from certain.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media that tumours have been circulating in recent days that the Argentine is not ruling out the possibility of leaving the club when his current contract expires in 2021.

On the face of it, Messi's reported stance is easy to understand. Barca is a team in decline and a player of Messi's ilk needs to be playing with the very best.

Throughout the 2019/20 season, it has felt like the Blaugrana have been a one-man band, with Messi bailing out the team on so many occasions it's almost laughable - without him, they'd be struggling to qualify for the Champions League.

Of course, the potential arrival of former teammate Xavi as manager and ousting of Josep Maria Bartmeou as club president in the next election could convince Messi to stay.