Barcelona'a Argentine striker Lionel Messi, who has reportedly sparked interest from English Premiership side Chelsea, said on Tuesday he wants to stay at the Spanish club.

"I am a Barcelona player and this is what matters most," he told radio La Red when asked about the press reports about Chelsea's desire to sign him.

"I have heard that Chelsea like me and I am very proud that such a great club are interested in me but I am happy here," the 20-year-old winger added.

Messi, the runner up for the 2007 World Player of the Year award, has already drawn comparisons to Diego Maradona, the inspiration behind Argentina reaching successive World Cup finals in 1986 and 1990, winning the former beating the then West Germany and losing to the same opposition in the second final.

He is under contract with Barcelona until 2014. Messi joined Barcelona's under-14 side in 2000 at the age of 13 and has quickly moved through the Catalan's side's youth squads until finally reaching the first team.

AFP

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