As the Lionel Messi transfer rumours continue to swirl, former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has made a number of bold statements regarding the future of Barcelona's wantaway striker.
Messi has told Catalan officials that he no longer sees his future at the Camp Nou.
The 33-year-old is demanding an exit from the club this summer, and even sent a fax to express his ultimate desire to leave.
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Messi's future was plunged into serious doubt after Bayern Munich knocked Barcelona out of the Champions League in a humiliating 8-2 defeat, and it now looks odds-on that he will leave in the coming weeks.
Amid the speculation surrounding his future, Rooney says he would love the 33-year-old to make a move to the Premier League this summer.
"I know he's getting older but he's a player who no one has seen before," he told talkSPORT. "Messi has everything - he can create goals, score goals, dictate the game and is the best player of all time.
"He's one of the only players I've sat there and watched and been in awe."
Rooney also encouraged Messi to avoid the MLS for the time being because "he's too good" for that level, and even suggested he could scoop another Ballon d'Or if he decides to join Manchester United or Manchester City.
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"The United States shouldn't be in his mind because he's too good," he added.
"He could come to the Premier League and be a Player of the Year. One million per cent.
"If he surrounds himself with Bruno Fernandes or Kevin De Bruyne he could win a seventh Ballon d'Or, which would be incredible."
The 34-year-old claims Messi remains one of the only players to leave him "in awe" as he prepares to leave Barca.
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"I know he's getting older but he's a player who no one has seen before," he told talkSPORT in an exclusive chat on Thursday morning.
"Messi has everything - he can create goals, score goals, dictate the game and is the best player of all time.
"He's one of the only players I've sat there and watched and been in awe."
Back in August, England's record goalscorer also gave his two cents on the Messi vs Ronaldo debate.
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"Ronaldo wasn't as focused on goals when we started playing together but you could see that all he wanted was to be the best player in the world," Rooney wrote in his Sunday Times column.
"He practised and practised and began to produce. Cristiano has become an incredible scorer and he and Messi are arguably the best two players the game has seen.
"Ronaldo is ruthless in the box, a killer. But Messi will torture you before he kills you. With Messi you just get the impression he is having more fun.
"Those two have completely changed the game in terms of goalscoring numbers and I don't think they'll ever be matched."
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