ZURICH: Leo Messi kept the latest Barcelona soap opera going when he conceded, ahead of the FIFA World Player Gala, that he did not know where he would be playing his football next year writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

Messi scored one goal and created two in Barcelona’s Sunday night defeat of Atletico de Madrid in the Spanish league and rounded on the club’s critics within minutes of the final whistle.

However, his tune had changed again in the cold light of Monday and against a wider context of his own tax problems in Catalonia and perceived dissatisfaction with club coach Luis Enrique.

Asked in Zurich about his future, Messi said: “I am not sure what’s going to happen, whether I’ll go back to Newell’s. I don’t know where I’ll be next year.

“I always said I’d like to finish my career at Barca and then play at Newell’s but nobody knows what the future holds, especially in the football world where so many things can change overnight.”

If Messi were to leave Barcelona his only likely destination would be the English Premier League with only Manchester City, Chelsea and possibly Manchester United being able to even dare enter an auction for his services.

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