Lionel Messi has responded to Cristiano Ronaldo’s challenge to leave Barcelona and renew their personal rivalry in the Italian league.
The Portuguese had set Messi the challenge of proving his talents in a league other than La Liga after leaving Real Madrid for Juventus in a £100million move last summer.
Ronaldo said: ‘I played in England, Spain, Italy, Portugal, in the national team, while he is still in Spain. Maybe he needs me more.
‘For me, life is a challenge, I like it and I like to make people happy. I would like him to come to Italy one day. Like me, accept the challenge.’
However Messi, whose Barcelona side currently sit top of the La Liga table, has emphatically responded to Ronaldo’s suggestion.
‘Accepting Ronaldo’s challenge to join Italian football? I don’t need any change,’ the Argentine told Marca.
‘I’m at the best team in the world. My challenges are renewed year after year. I do not need to change teams or leagues to set new goals.
‘I am at home and I do not need to change.’
Messi, 31, has scored 21 goals and contributed 13 assists for Barcelona so far this season, while Ronaldo has scored 13 goals and contributed seven assists since his arrival in Italy.
Meanwhile, Messi has admitted he would love a reunion with Brazilian star Neymar at Barcelona.
It has been suggested that Neymar will leave Paris Saint-Germain next summer with a potential return to the Nou Camp on the cards.
‘I think it’s complicated,’ Messi told Marca.
‘We would love for him to come back for what it would mean, as much as a player as for the dressing room.
‘We are friends, we had great moments, others not so much, but we passed a lot of time together.
‘However it looks very hard for him to leave Paris. PSG won’t let him quit.’