Former Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas says he is “fully confident” that Lionel Messi will see out the rest of his career at the Nou Camp.

With his rift with the Barcelona hierarchy becoming increasingly public, Messi was linked with a shock move to Inter Milan earlier this month, while reports in his native Argentina suggested a return to Newell’s Old Boys could be on the cards.

The 32-year-old branded both stories ‘fake news’ in a post on Instagram and looks unlikely to be leaving the Catalan giants anytime soon, as Fabregas, who came through the La Masia youth academy at the same time as Messi, attests.

"I speak with Messi and his idea has always been to end his career at Barcelona,” Fabregas told Spanish station Cadena Cope. “Many things can happen at a club but I am fully confident that his career will end at Barça.”

Unlike Messi, Fabregas’ career has taken him across Europe. He left Barcelona as a teenager to join Arsenal, before returning to his hometown club and then heading on to Chelsea and Monaco.

The 32-year-old also revealed he had “quite a few options” to join Barca’s El Clasico rivals Real Madrid during his career, and did not rule out ending up at the Bernabeu at some point in the future as a coach.

"You can never say never,” he added. “I know this very clearly. As a player, maybe, but as a coach it is different because you can manage 30 teams in your career.​

“As a player the contracts are longer but as a coach you are likely to have many more opportunities because they can kick you out after two days.”