A privately owned club would sell Messi but Barcelona never will, claims Rosell

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has claimed that whereas a privately-owned club would cash in on Lionel Messi, the Blaugrana never will on account of their ownership structure.

The Catalan side are effectively owned and controlled by its members, meaning Rosell and his fellow board answer to the supporters.

Consequently, the Blaugrana supremo believes that the club will always be motivated by success and not financial gain, using the example of Barca's most prized asset to underline his point.

"Messi is not for sale," Rosell declared in an interview with L'Equipe. "A corporation would sell him because it is a company seeking profits. But this is not the case with us."

Rosell also claimed that the success of clubs funded by billionaire owners, such as Manchester City and Chelsea, will not last and that they will ultimately fold.

"Competition with such corporations is difficult ... but long term it is we who will have more success," he reasoned.

"There will come a day when a millionaire, a patron, will grow tired of investing money and the club will cease to exist."

However, Rosell admitted that Barcelona remain in dire financial straits because of the recklessness of the previous regime.

"We inherited a debt of €500 million," he explained. "We have imposed a policy of extreme austerity for two years.

"We have also received support from the Qatar Foundation; without that help we would be in great difficulty."

Barcelona are the reigning world, European and Spanish champions.