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Lionel Messi to stay at Barcelona despite Eric Abidal row

Messi's deal runs until 2021 and he is open to discussing an extension

Lionel Messi intends to stay at Barcelona despite this week's public row with sporting director Eric Abidal.

Sources close to the 32-year-old have assured Sky Sports News that he is not thinking of leaving the Nou Camp this summer and remains determined to see out his current contract at the very least.

Messi's deal runs until 2021 and he is open to discussing an extension, although the forward is in no rush and would prefer to do so on a rolling year-by-year basis.

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Bruno Fernandes-Paul Pogba partnership just what Manchester United need, says Lee Sharpe

"Going forward, they can cause all sorts of problems," Sharpe tells SSN; former United winger says club at risk of losing transfer market prestige

Lee Sharpe tells Sky Sports News of his excitement at a potential partnership between Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba
Former Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe believes a Bruno Fernandes-Paul Pogba attacking midfield partnership is exactly what his old side needs and says the club have also missed Pogba's "arrogance" in the team.

United completed the £46.6m signing of Fernandes from Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon on Deadline Day following lengthy talks over the whole month of January.

Meanwhile, Pogba has played just over 70 minutes for United since September due to multiple ankle injuries which have kept the Frenchman on the sidelines.

"I think they [Fernandes-Pogba] would have a good partnership," Sharpe told Sky Sports News.

"You would have to play them with someone who could do the defensive work. Fernandes is a natural forward-thinking midfielder.

Pogba has been restricted to just seven Premier League games this season
"Going forward, I think they can cause all sorts of problems between them. It could be just what United need. It's been really disappointing with no Pogba this season, I think they've really missed him.

"He's got charisma on the pitch and the creativity he brings to the game - there's a level of arrogance and ability that brings everyone up to Paul Pogba's level."

'United are unorganised'
United failed in their attempts last month to lure 19-year-old striker Erling Haaland to Old Trafford, with the Norway striker instead opting for a move to Borussia Dortmund.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also had a bid for Bournemouth forward Josh King rejected before finally agreeing a deal to sign Shanghai Shenhua's Odion Ighalo on loan.

Sharpe says his former club can still attract the top players but run the risk of losing this prestige following recent outgoings and the failure to bring in the right replacements - something that has drawn criticism from United fans.

Odion Ighalo signed for United on a six-month loan deal
"They're still on the borderline of attracting top players, but it goes to show just how unorganized the club is at the moment," added the former England international.

"At the start of the season, they let [Romelu] Lukaku and [Alexis] Sanchez go who are not bad players at all.

Mourinho unsure about Rooney's United future

The Red Devils captain has continuously been linked with a move to the Chinese Super League, with their transfer window only closing at the end of this month.

The 31-year-old Rooney has not been a regular starter under Mourinho and the manager has offered no guarantees that his skipper will still be at Old Trafford for the next campaign.

Mourinho told reporters on Tuesday: "You have to ask him. I can't guarantee that I'm here next week so how can I guarantee a player won't be here next season?

"What I can guarantee is that if Wayne one day leaves the club it is not because I want him to leave the club.

"The only thing I can guarantee is that I would never push, or try to push, a legend of this club to another destination.

"So you have to ask him if he wants to stay at the club for the rest of his career or if he sees himself moving on. I'm happy to have him. I have been very open with you. I don't want him to leave."

Mourinho open to offers for United duo Depay and Schneiderlin

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said he is more than happy to listen to offers as out-of-favour duo Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin near the Old Trafford exit door.

Signed by former boss Louis van Gaal in 2014, Depay and Schneiderlin have found themselves on the outer this season, repeatedly overlooked by Mourinho.

Depay and Schneiderlin failed to make it on the bench for Sunday's 1-0 Premier League win at home to Tottenham, having been left out of the squad for the Europa League fixture in Ukraine on Thursday.

And as the January transfer window draws nearer, Mourinho is ready to cash in.

"I am always open to listen to offers for every player. More than listen to offers, I am always ready to listen to the players themselves," the Portuguese tactician said ahead of Wednesday's match at Crystal Palace.

"So any player who knocks on my door and is not happy and wants to move, when the offers are correct, I will never stop a player from leaving even if it is to a rival.

"When [Juan] Mata left Chelsea to come to Manchester United [in 2014], in my mentality, [It's] no problem at all. I am always open."

Mourinho added: "Sometimes in matches – and matches is the place where the evaluation is real – you get disappointed with a performance. But in training, the professionalism and the way they do it, I can only say good things about everyone.

"I am happy with the squad I have. I would like my squad to be my squad until the end of the season and I am not going to any player to say, 'You are going to leave' because I am not happy, because I don't want to have him."

One player who could stay beyond January is former Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Banished from the first team upon Mourinho's arrival in the off-season, Schweinsteiger made a surprise return to the fold in United's EFL Cup win over West Ham last month.

Schweinsteiger is yet to feature since but Mourinho said: "I do [expect him to stay]. Unless again, the player knocks on our door with a future that he wants to grab with both hands.

"We have Premier League, Europa League, then in the League Cup we have a two-legged semi and hopefully one more match in the final.

"The FA Cup is a lot of matches, so our number of players is not so big, even Schweinsteiger is back to the group which was exactly the intention because he is one more option for us.

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