Lionel Messi shocked by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's stunning plan
Posted Saturday, February 03, 2018 by Express.co.uk
Barcelona news: Lionel Messi has learned of a huge Chelsea bombshell
BARCELONA star Lionel Messi has been shocked by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's stunning plan to replace Antonio Conte with Luis Enrique, according to reports.
Chelsea manager Conte is facing an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge, with the Italian set to pay the price for regularly criticising the club's transfer policy.
Results on the pitch have grown steadily poorer too, with Chelsea recently being dumped out of the Carabao Cup and being hit for three by Bournemouth in midweek.
Barcelona go up against Chelsea in the last 16 of the Champions League later this month in a tie where Messi will be aiming to break his Blues duck.
And Spanish website Don Balon say the Argentina international has unearthed a huge bombshell ahead of the contest, with Abramovich supposedly planning to have Enrique in charge by that time.
Express Sport understands Conte is destined to leave the club at the end of the season at the latest.
But, given Chelsea's trigger-happy reputation, the former Juventus boss may be lucky to stay until then.
Abramovich famously axed Jose Mourinho in midseason twice.
And the Russian also showed little sympathy to Andre Villas-Boas when the Portuguese was sacked in 2012.
Don Balon say Messi has learned Enrique is in line to take the reins before Barcelona's showdown against Chelsea on February 20.
The 30-year-old is still close with the Spaniard, who left Barca at the end of last season.
Meanwhile, Italian Football Federation chief Roberto Fabbricini has claimed Conte is desperate to quit Chelsea.
And the 48-year-old supposedly wants to return to his role as manager of the national team.
"The names are the ones you know," he said when asked who could replace Gian Piero Ventura .
"Mancini was in Rome but we didn't contact him, Conte seems eager to wear blue again.
"Ancelotti opens and closes the door and Ranieri isn't out either."
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