Messi has not refused Barca deal talks

Messi sources refute suggestions Barcelona contract talks have been snubbed

Claims that the mercurial Argentine playmaker has informed Camp Nou officials that he has no desire to discuss fresh terms have been rubbished by those close to the player

Reports suggesting that Lionel Messi has snubbed the opportunity to discuss fresh terms with Barcelona and will allow his contract to run down have been refuted by sources close to the player, Goal can confirm.

It was reported in Spanish publication Marca on Monday that the mercurial Argentine had informed Camp Nou officials that he had no desire to enter into negotiations regarding an extension to his current deal.

The 29-year-old was said to be willing to let his contract, which ties him to Barca until 2018, come to an end before making a decision on his future.

Those rumours have, however, been rejected out of hand.

Any suggestion that Messi has informed his father, who also works as his agent, not to enter into dialogue with Barca has been refuted, with five months having passed since Jorge Messi was last in Catalunya. Furthermore, there no plans for him to return until the end of the calendar year.

Neymar has recently put pen to paper on a bumper new contract at Camp Nou, while Luis Suarez has hinted that he could soon follow suit.

Getting Messi to commit his long-term future to the club will also be considered a top priority, but Barca will put the groundwork in place behind the scenes and avoid carrying out their business in public.

With talk of a possible breakdown in communication between the La Liga giants and their star turn put to bed, focus can now be shifted back to the defence of the Spanish domestic title and a shot at recapturing the Champions League crown.