Jose Mourinho: 'Every season there are stories about Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona - I hope he never leaves. He belongs to Barca... they belong to him'

MOURINHO AND MESSI

Jose Mourinho has distanced Manchester United from an unlikely swoop for Lionel Messi, by saying he hopes the Barcelona star stays at the Nou Camp until he retires.

Mourinho was quizzed on Wednesday over whether he would consider a move for Messi, should the Argentine forward become available. Messi has been linked with a Barcelona exit as new contract talks continue.

But Mourinho, a long-term admirer of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner from afar, says he thinks it would be 'beautiful' to see the 29-year-old remain a one-club man for the rest of his career.

Manchester City have been the club consistently linked with Messi, with a potential reunion with former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola regularly mooted.

Mourinho, though, sees only one footballing home for the player. 

'Every season the same story, every season he (Messi) is going to leave and he never leaves and I honestly hope he never leaves,' Mourinho said.

'I think he belongs to Barca and they belong to him. The beautiful thing would be for him to start and finish his career at Barcelona.

'I think he will stay in Barcelona but that's just a personal opinion.'

Mourinho had previously stated that Messi could inspire any team to Champions League glory, such is the level of his ability.

Speaking after winning the Premier League title as Chelsea manager in May of last year, Mourinho said: 'Messi makes the gap by himself.

'You have doubts that Man City with Messi can win the Champions League? Or Arsenal with Messi can win the Champions League? Or Chelsea with Messi can win the Champions League? Or Man United with Messi can win the Champions League? I think so.

'I'm not saying they will always win. I am saying that a team with that boy is a different team, is a different story.'

Messi and his Barcelona team-mates are 200 miles from Manchester in Glasgow as they prepare for their Champions League trip to Celtic on Wednesday night.

Mourinho's United side, meanwhile, face Feyenoord in the Europa League at Old Trafford the following evening.'