Does Barcelona board member want to sell Lionel Messi?

Rumors of Barcelona legend Lionel Messi remaining with the Spanish giants may have been premature or exaggerated.

Following a trophyless season in which rivals Real Madrid conquered La Liga, stories emerged linking the 33-year-old Argentinian viewed as arguably the greatest player in history with a Barcelona exit and a potential switch to Premier League outfit Manchester City.

Before the ink dried on the contract appointing Ronald Koeman as the new Barcelona manager, however, club president Josep Bartomeu told Barca TV that Messi "will be the pillar" of the team's rebuilding project through at least the expiration of the player's contract after the upcoming season.

On Friday, though, ESPN's Moises Llorens and Sam Marsden reported not everybody within the club is on the same page as it concerns Messi's immediate future.

"At least one high-ranking source at the club is of the opinion that if Messi is not happy at Barcelona anymore then they should consider letting him go if a big offer arrives.

"For the moment, no one has dared put a price on Messi's head, and the club continue to point to his €700 million release clause — although he would be allowed to leave for free next summer if he doesn't sign new terms before then."

Messi angrily referred to Barcelona as a "weak team" after Real won the league title, and defender Gerard Pique said the club, as a whole, required changes that went beyond just the players following Barca's humiliating 8-2 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinal.

Barcelona selling proven commodities such as Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba, potential transfers mentioned by ESPN, may not be what Messi has in mind at this stage of his career, especially if City are waiting to pounce once he becomes an available free agent next summer.

All good things come to an end, though Barcelona losing Messi for nothing would be an unforgivable sin, especially if the club falls short in next season's La Liga and Champions League competitions.