This story corrects an earlier ESPN FC article.
Barcelona and Lionel Messi's father have both denied that the Argentina forward had given an interview to a U.K. magazine that was picked up by multiple outlets including ESPN FC.
In the interview, Messi was reported to have made wide-ranging comments about his current contract negotiations with the Catalan club, who have since denied that the interview ever took place.
A club spokesperson told ESPN FC on Wednesday that the interview was "100 percent false" and Messi Sr. told Mundo Deportivo that the "interview doesn't exist, it's a lie."
Messi's management company issued the following statement: "Leo Messi Management (LMM) want to confirm and clarify that the player never gave an interview to the cited media and that the content is totally false.
"LMM reserves the right to take legal action against this and other media outlets that produce false or invented information about Leo Messi."
Messi's current contract has entered its final 18 months and recent comments by club officials Oscar Grau and Pere Gratacos have led to fears that he may not renew.
Reports in England subsequently suggested Manchester City could be able to tempt him away from Camp Nou with a big-money offer.