Barcelona midfielder Xavi has laughed off suggestions that Lionel Messi could be prised away from the Catalan outfit by Premier League side Manchester City.

City have been linked with a world-record move for the Argentine at the end of the season, with some reports claiming that Barcelona could be prepared to sell for a significant sum.

However, Xavi has insisted that "there is no transfer fee that could make it a good deal for Barcelona", who host City in the last-16 Champions League second leg this evening.

"Of course there will always be stories about the best player in the world and in my opinion the best player ever - but Manchester City and any other team can forget about signing Messi," Xavi told Goal.com.

"There is no transfer fee that could make it a good deal for Barcelona - and as everybody who knows him knows - he loves the club and has made it clear he never wants to leave."

Messi has been with Barcelona since 2000.