Luis Enrique slams reports of bust-up with Lionel Messi

“I talk to the president [a lot] but I have had no ultimatum. It would be the first time for me but, no, I have not had one, I’m sorry,” he said at a press conference.

Talk has been rife of disagreements and heated exchanges between Messi and Enrqiue while rumours of a move to Chelsea have grown, with Catalan radio saying the London club has contacted the players' father and agent Jorge.

RAC1 radio claimed Premier League leaders Chelsea would be prepared to pay Messi's £250 million buy-out clause.

"I have the same relationship with all the players since the start of the season. Obviously we know each other better now but there is no change in the relationship," Enrique said at the news conference ahead of Thursday's Copa del Rey last 16 clash with Elche.

"I feel I have the support of the club and the players. I have no doubt about that. I continue my work with the same professionalism as before and I am not here to deny stories.

"I am not going to comment about all the different media reports about what has supposed to have taken place. There are so many varied reports which are inaccurate and ill intentioned," added the coach.

He did, however, hint at the possible cause of the rift between coach and star player as he wrapped up the news conference:

"There are some rules that everyone must comply with: that is one of my principles," came the cryptic comment, though no further explanation was forthcoming.

Messi and Luis Enrique were reported to have had heated arguments in training last Friday and again after Sunday's defeat at Real Sociedad, where Messi was unhappy about being left out of the starting lineup.

Luis Enrique felt the player was not ready to start, having only returned to training on Friday following his Christmas break.

On Monday, Messi then failed to attend a training session open to the public and a hospital visit to see sick children due to illness.

The fact that on the same day he started following Chelsea on Instagram was interpreted as another indication of his state of mind.

"Messi is the best player in the world. I have said it so many times that there is no point repeating it," Luis Enrique had said.

"I do not talk about what happens in the dressing room or the training ground; what happens there, stays there. My job is to manage the team. I do not confirm or deny.”

Enrique was also asked if he believed Messi wants to stay with Barca.

"I’m not the right person to answer that," came the response.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu later gave Enrique his backing - as he announced a surprise, early election for the club presidency - saying the coach had "a project in place" and that Messi was the team's "leader".

"He is rebuilding a team and working with the players. He is the right man," Bartomeu told a news conference where he also announced presidential elections for the end of this season due to a boardroom crisis.

"Messi is the best player in the world without any doubts.

"Before the season started I said that we would build a new team and that the leader would be Messi. He is our leader, he has a contract and we are happy with him."

Enrique did an impressive job of stonewalling for much of the conference - but dropped just enough of interest to spark further speculation. The idea that the player would go so far as to demand his coach be sacked seems far-fetched - but Enrique's cryptic comment that "there are some rules everyone must follow" is a clear hint at a major disagreement between the pair.

As for Messi being worth £250 million should he leave? We frankly doubt that anyone would pay half that sum given (a) his form this year and (b) this apparent outburst of bolshiness. Not to mention the havoc that such a signing would wreak on a team's hopes of staying on the right side of the FFP rules.