"Lionel Messi is fine and wants to keep on winning with Barcelona"

Javier Mascherano was the chosen Barcelona player to attend the press conference after the international break and before the Blaugrana return to action against Sevilla on Saturday.

And, of course, the situation involving his friend and teammate Lionel Messi's future at Barcelona was the main talking point.

"I always read Messi is thankful towards Barcelona; I cannot have an opinion on something Messi has not said," Mascherano said about a possible Messi departure from Camp Nou.

"He is fine and he wants to keep on winning with Barça."

However, despite that, the Argentina international did add that his "conversations with Leo are private".

"But I don't see Messi as unhappy with either Barcelona or with the Argentine national team," the 30-year-old continued. 

"Where did you read that he is annoyed with Barça? I have not seen or read that anywhere."

On the possibility that there is a campaign against Messi, Mascherano continued: "It is impossible to discredit one of the best players ever and I wouldn't like to believe that because I like my profession and I believe in the spirit of the football.

"But someone like Leo, who has always been an example on and off the pitch, is difficult to discredit."