Guardiola made this known amidst several speculation that the Argentine is one of the reason he recently signed a two-year contract extension with City on Thursday and was immediately linked with his ex-player, who came close to moving last summer.

Messi's contract ends next summer and he could sign pre-contract terms with any club outside Spain from 1 January.

Guardiola said: "Messi is a Barcelona player. I said it a thousand times. As a fan, I want Leo to finish there."

Argentine playmaker Messi had looked set to join City after putting in a transfer request in August, only for Barcelona's then-president Josep Maria Bartomeu to block the transfer.

Bartomeu then resigned in October but Messi's future remains uncertain.

"His contract finishes this year [season] and I don't know what will happen in his mind," Guardiola said.

It would be noted that the duo were together in Barcelona and won many trophies together until the coach left to Bayern Munich.