Jose Mourinho denies Chelsea's interest in signing Lionel Messi yet again

Lionel Messi will not leave the Catalan side, insists Mourinho

Speaking to la Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview, Chelsea boss José Mourinho was asked about Barcelona forward Lionel Messi's future, and if Chelsea were still interested in him.

The Portuguese manager said: "I think it's difficult for him to leave and I have the feeling that he will stay at Barcelona forever. I can be wrong because nobody knows what will happen in the future.”

Chelsea were said to have agreed to activate Messi’s buyout clause of £200m during the transfer window, and the move was supposed to be seen through next summer. Messi was ‘reportedly’ enthusiastic about his reunion with his close friend and former team-mate Cesc Fabregas, who had left the Catalans for Chelsea last season.

But, Mourinho has stated on several occasions that it is very unlikely that the Argentina skipper will agree to a move to Chelsea.

"My feeling is that Barça won't open the door for him to leave. And I don't see Messi playing for another team rather than Barcelona,” he added.