Lionel Messi will stay at Barcelona 'whatever happens', says Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero

Aguero doesn't believe unrest at the Camp Nou will force his countryman out.

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Ben Hayward30 April 2020

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is certain that Argentina team-mate Lionel Messi will stay at Barcelona – whatever happens at the Catalan club.

Messi has a clause in his contract allowing him to walk away at the end of the season and it has been speculated that he might look to leave after a season of boardroom unrest at Camp Nou, although he has always maintained he is happy.

"Leo is a player who is a symbol and a legend of Barcelona," Aguero told El Chringuito. "They have changed 20,000 players since he has been there and he has always stayed.

"I know he has had the opportunity to leave, but he has stayed. It's not about his salary, about more cash, it's because he loves the club."

Many of the links in recent years have been with Aguero's club, City, but Messi has never seriously considered a move to the Premier League.

"He identifies with Barcelona and he's comfortable there," the striker said. "He's happy. Even with a thousand things happening at the club, he'll stay. Unless something catastrophic happens, or things are really bad, but I don't think that will be the case."