Messi: I cannot imagine playing for any other club

Posted Wednesday, June 01, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has affirmed his loyalty to the Catalan club as he arrived in Buenos Aires to meet up with his Argentinian squad ahead of July's Copa America.

The 23-year-old ruled out any possibility of leaving Barca, which recruited him from Rosario as a teenager, following the team's win over Manchester United last weekend in the Champions League final at Wembley.

"I cannot see myself ever playing in any club shirt apart from Barcelona's," Messi told reporters as he left the airport on Tuesday morning.

Messi says his next target is to replicate his club success in the international game, starting by lifting the Copa America on home soil.

"I have been lucky enough to win everything with Barcelona and individually, but my goal now is to win things with the Seleccion," he said.

Messi and 24 other players will be announced in Batista's Copa America squad today. The roster will be cut down to 22 for the start of the tournament.

Among the players expected to be chosen is Carlos Tevez, who has been rumored to have problems with Messi. However, Messi denied that he has had difficulties with Tevez or anyone else in the national set-up.

"Carlitos has spoken and he said that there is no fight," he said. "You guys have already had me fighting with Tevez, [Juan Roman] Riquelme, [Diego] Maradona… I have no problems with anyone and I do not plan to."

'La Pulga' arrived this morning at Ezeiza airport to a crowd of journalists and photographers.