Lionel Messi Transfer News: Paris Saint-Germain President Nasser Al Khelaifi Says Barcelona Star Won't Join French Ligue 1 Club

Despite reports circulating that French Ligue 1 affiliate Paris Saint-Germain were preparing to table a record-breaking deal for current Barcelona star Lionel Messi, club President Nasser Al Khelaifi said recently that his team will not pursue the four-time Ballon d’Or winner because various limitations prevent such a move from happening. Les Rouge-et-Bleu currently pace the Ligue 1 table by three points over AS Monaco and even though the acquisition of a top-level scorer such as Leo Messi would certainly up the club’s chances of winning a championship, the PSG boss isn’t giving it anymore thought.

“Messi is a fantastic player,” Al Khelaifi said to Goal.com recently. “I read the other day [in L’Equipe] that he would join PSG. Well, if you have the money to take him to PSG, make him sign a contract and bring him to Paris. Is there any chance that the dream of signing Messi will become reality one day? No, PSG will never sign Messi. If we did not have any limits, we would sign Messi. He is not coming here, though, because we do have limits. I am happy with the current squad, the best players are already at PSG.”

One of those top players Nasser Al Khelaifi is referring to is current PSG and Sweden National striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who spent two seasons with Leo Messi at Camp Nou. Though the Paris Saint-Germain president made it clear that he will no longer take looks at the Barcelona star, Ibrahimovic -- who joined PSG from Milan in 2012 -- would love to see his former running mate sporting the PSG red, white and blue. Ibrahimovic stated recently that even though he believes Messi to be happy at Barcelona, the landing of a player of his caliber would catapult Paris Saint-Germain to the top of the sport.

“If he's up for sale then the whole world will be after him, not just PSG," Ibrahimovic said. “I don't know the situation but I think he's very happy at Barcelona. The press creates this but only he knows the truth. PSG's project is to dream bigger but if you buy Messi, you don't dream bigger, you are bigger. We play very good football here.”