Given the current turmoil and tax fraud allegations against Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, not to mention the Argentinians own tax problems with Messi and his father Jorge being accused of defrauding the authorities of more than 4m euros (£3.1m; $5m) it is not surprising to think that the playmaker could be looking to leave Spain.
Add to this the well documented run in with Barca trainer Luis Enrique adding to the possibility that Messi may be ready for a move.
Chelsea along with Manchester United and Bayern Munich are perhaps the only clubs that could afford the 27-year-old with it highly unlikely that he would ever join Barcelona rivals Real Madrid.
Manchester United midfielder Angel Di Maria knows both Messi and Jose Mourinho well and thinks the manager and player would get along with each other.
“I don’t think Messi would have any problem working with Mourinho,” Di Maria told Fifa’s official website.
“But in principle, I don’t think Leo wants to leave Barcelona. It’s hard to walk away from a club that’s given you everything, where you effectively grew up.”
The Manchester United star went on to talk about both Messi and his former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo saying that they were two different types of players.
“I always say the same thing: that they’re two completely different players,” he remarked.
“Leo features in every game, making short bursts and nonchalantly dribbling past one, two or three players with great ball control in tight spaces. Cristiano is more about power and long range shots. They’re different.
“If I were Fifa, I’d have two Ballon d’Or prizes; one for that pair to fight over and another for everyone else.”
Messi and Ronaldo have both won the prestigious trophy over the past seven year with the last other winner being Kaka back in 2007.
