Lionel Messi cannot imagine ever leaving Barcelona for Paris St Germain

Posted Wednesday, October 31, 2012 by skysports.com

Lionel Messi: Admits he is still stung by the penalty miss that cost Barcelona their UEFA Champions League crown

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi claims he cannot even imagine ever leaving the Catalan club.

The likes of Manchester City and Paris St Germain theoretically have the funds to force the hand of Barcelona but the player himself is not prepared to contemplate a transfer.

Messi told France Football: "Leaving Barca to join a club like PSG? I have the best team-mates in the world. Each year we are fighting for titles.

"Barcelona is a wonderful city too. Barca is the club where I have grown. Frankly, I couldn't imagine myself leaving."

The Argentina international will doubtless be targeting another tilt at the UEFA Champions League trophy in May.

And the 25-year-old forward admits he is still struggling to come to terms with the penalty miss against Chelsea in last season's semi-final that saw Barcelona surrender their crown.

"I have already stated it is a prickle that has remained in my heart," added Messi.

"Of course I have been disappointed by that defeat because we deserved a goal there, which would have put us in a better position for the return leg.

"We didn't have success even if we did everything. Now that penalty, if I scored it, would have changed everything. Maybe it would have allowed us to win another Champions League but that is in the past."

But he added: "I've kicked that penalty so many times in my mind. Above all it is during the final that I thought if I had scored it we would have been in Chelsea's position."