Xavi insists Lionel Messi return to Barcelona is 'impossible'

Xavi Hernandez has commented on rumours linking Lionel Messi with a shock return to Barcelona, stating that the transfer is currently 'impossible'.

Rumours around a potential move to re-sign Messi surfaced after Barca president Joan Laporta said that hoped the player would re-join the club in the future:

"I wish, that the Messi chapter is not over yet at Barça and I think our responsibility is to ensure that this open chapter, which has not yet been closed, has a good moment in which it can be done as it should have been done and, in addition, has a much more splendid ending than it had.

"As the president of Barça, I think I did what I had to do. But on a personal level and also as president, I think I owe him", Laporta said (via ESPN).

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When asked about Laporta's comments, Xavi seemingly quashed rumours, saying that a move for the player was 'impossible' at this moment in time: "Leo has a contract, so it's impossible, impossible.

"It doesn't make sense to speak about Messi. He is the best player in the world and the best ever. The president has already said that he hopes Messi's story has not finished with Barcelona.

"We will see in the future, but it's not the moment to speak about Leo, it's the moment to talk about the exciting players we have here."

'Impossible' hasn't stopped Barcelona from signing other players throughout this summer transfer window. Despite being in a crippling financial situation, the club have managed to sign Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen this summer.