Barcelona star Lionel Messi has reportedly asked for a transfer away from the Blaugrana, one year before his contract expires, according to a report from Portuguese media outlet Esporte Interativo but Catalonian media outlet Sport report Barcelona deny this having happened

The Portuguese report details how the 33-year-old Argentine star is unhappy with the direction that the Catalan side has taken since the sale of Brazilian star Neymar a few years ago to Paris Saint-Germain.

The club’s shock 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League earlier this week was emblematic of the chaos in Catalonia, pushing the six-time Ballon d’Or winner to look for change.

Inter are strongly interested in signing Messi, the report continues, and the Nerazzurri’s owners the Suning group would be able to afford a deal with the 33-year-old, with Financial Fair Play not posing a threat. The Milanese club may look to set up serious negotiations for the star upon the completion of their Europa League campaign.

However, Sport report that sources inside the club have denied that Lionel Messi has handed in a transfer request to leave the club and has no intentions to part ways with Barcelona.