Paris Saint-Germain: Messi is too expensive

The Ligue 1 champions have dismissed suggestions they could bid for the Argentine following reports they were prepared to smash the world transfer record for his services

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has strongly rejected renewed reports linking the club with a move for Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.

During the summer les Parisiens were rumoured to be ready to match Messi’s reported €250 million buy-out clause in response to the Catalan’s public pursuit of captain Thiago Silva.

Al-Khelaifi was quoted in AS saying: “I haven’t spoken to Messi because I’m not interested. You would have to ask the Barça [resident (If he is available), not me.”

Since Qatar Sport Investment bought the club in 2011, PSG have spent approximately €270 million on their playing squad, with Edinson Cavani the club's latest marquee signing over the summer.

But with one eye on Fifa’s financial fair play regulations, Al-Khelaifi stressed that Messi was too expensive for the club to consider.

He added: “I won’t pay what they say he’s worth. I’m a realist and that amount is unrealistic. I’m not thinking about the possibility at all.”

The 26-year-old ended a four-game goalscoring drought with two goals in the Blaugrana's 3-1 win over AC Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday.