Martinez, who missed a penalty in Inter's 2-1 Serie A defeat to Bologna on Sunday, has been strongly tipped to make a move to Camp Nou at the end of the 2019-20 season.
Marotta was again asked about the forward prior to the defeat at San Siro and he reiterated Inter's desire to hold on to the 22-year-old.
"Lautaro has not shown the slightest desire to leave," Marotta told DAZN.
"Aside from dates and deadlines, the clearest situation is that Inter do not want to sell their champions or interesting young talents. If the player were to ask to leave, we would evaluate that together, but so far, that request has not arrived.
"I believe that, being a young player, it can boost his career to continue playing for a while longer at Inter.
"Being an Inter player means being part of a big club and that ought to be reason enough for him to feel proud."
Marotta also dismissed rumours Inter have lodged a bid for Chelsea left-back Emerson Palmieri.
"I understand the many questions about transfer speculation, but I can say we have not had any contact or opened any negotiation for Emerson Palmieri.
"We are making evaluations for next season, but the most important issue remains this current campaign."
Argentina striker Martinez scored his 15th goal of the campaign during Inter's 1-1 draw against Atalanta at the weekend.
The 22-year-old's partnership in attack with Romelu Lukaku has established the Nerazzurri as serious title challengers to Juventus in Serie A.
His performances have also apparently caught the attention of Barcelona, who are facing up to four months without Luis Suarez, while it has also been claimed Manchester City view Martinez as a suitable long-term heir to their all-time record goalscorer Sergio Aguero.
"I'm very happy here at Inter, people love me and I love them," Martinez told TyC Sports.
"If you talk about me [as a transfer target] it is because I do my job well. I must continue on this path.
"I am very calm, I live day to day and I am happy and comfortable here."
Conte took charge of Inter before the start of this season and Martinez credits the former Juve and Chelsea boss as a driving force behind his rapid progress.
“Many things have changed since he came in," Martinez said. "He has a special way of doing things and has taught us so much from his first day in charge.
"He has convinced us to all give our best and the results are there for all to see.
“I have had to adapt to a new culture in another country and learn another language. I played little under the previous manager, but under Conte I have grown a lot and I am enjoying how things are going."
Conte secured the capture of Lukaku from Manchester United, a player he tried to sign at Chelsea, and Martinez has been a huge beneficiary of the head coach getting his man.
"Lukaku helps me a lot, he is a player who – on and off the field – is very important to me," Martinez said of the Belgium international, who has 18 goals in all competitions this term.
"He is a very good person who helps me out. I am very happy to have met him.”
Both players have been linked with moves to Real Madrid, and Mbappe recently scored a superb solo goal to give Paris Saint-Germain a 1-0 lead over Los Blancos in their Champions League round-of-16 tie.
Madrid had multiple bids for Mbappe turned down in August. The 23-year-old will become a free agent at the end of the season.
Reports had suggested that Mbappe could miss Wednesday's return leg in Spain after suffering a knock in training, but with PSG hoping that he will be fit for the trip, former Madrid forward Higuain claims the forward is one of the two heirs apparent to Messi and Ronaldo.
The Inter Miami forward, who scored 107 goals in 190 LaLiga appearances for Madrid between 2007 and 2013, also believes Mbappe's arrival could take his old club back "to the top" of European football.
"[Mbappe] has all the characteristics," Higuain told Stats Perform.
"I believe that Leo and Cristiano at some point will stop playing, because life is like that, and Mbappe and Haaland will be their successors.
"Of course, Mbappe has all the characteristics to take Real Madrid to the top."
Mbappe recently moved level with Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the joint-second highest goalscorer in PSG's history, with his tally of 156 goals for the French giants bettered only by Edinson Cavani, who scored 200 goals for the club.
Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti called Mbappe "unstoppable" after he downed the Spanish giants at the Parc des Princes last month.
PSG sporting director Leonardo, meanwhile, recently referred to Mbappe as the "best player in the world today", hinting the in-demand striker could yet elect to remain in the French capital.
Mbappe was suspended for PSG's 1-0 Ligue 1 loss to Nice last time out, and is the only player in the French top flight to have reached double figures for both goals and assists this season, with his 24 goal contributions (14 goals, 10 assists) helping the Parisians to a 13-point lead at the summit.
Haaland, meanwhile, is one of the most prolific forwards in European football, and it has been reported that Madrid and Manchester City are leading the chase for the 21-year-old.
Since making his debut for Borussia Dortmund in January 2020, the Norway international has netted 80 times in all competitions, a tally which ranks behind that of only Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski (112) in the same timeframe of players in Europe's big five leagues.
Mbappe has been tipped to join Madrid as he enters the final 18 months of his PSG contract, while Premier League champions Liverpool have also been linked.
Ligue 1 holders PSG are looking to extend Mbappe's contract beyond the 2021-22 season in the French capital.
Suker – now president of the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) after spending three years at Madrid, where he won LaLiga and the Champions League among other honours between 1996 and 1999 – discussed the possibility of Mbappe moving to the Santiago Bernabeu.
"There is a lot of money now in football, but if there is no hunger the player will never succeed," the 52-year-old Suker told beIN Sports France.
"You have to look for a player who is hungry and I think [Kylian] Mbappe has that desire needed to play for Real Madrid.
"I am not a representative and I can only talk about what the player transmits to me."
Mbappe's goal against Montpellier on Saturday was his 100th for PSG, whom he joined from domestic rivals Monaco in August 2017.
Mbappe has 10 goals in nine Ligue 1 outings this term and a further four assists – 1.5 and 0.6 per 90 minutes respectively, compared to 1.1 and 0.3 across 20 games in the curtailed 2019-20 campaign.
The World Cup-winning France international is also averaging more shots on target (3.1 compared to 2.9 last season), successful dribbles (4.5 to 3.3), touches of the ball (63.7 to 60.3), touches in the opposition box (14.1 to 12.4) and successful passes (31.5 to 28.8).
However, his shot conversion rate has decreased from a goal every 1.3 shots in Ligue 1 last season to one every 5.1 so far this campaign.
Mbappe, 21, has been heavily linked with a move to Madrid with his contract at PSG expiring in 2022.
Emery coached the France international for a season at PSG in 2017-18, when they won Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue together.
The Spaniard believes Mbappe has the talent to create a spectacular period at Madrid, if he decided to make the move.
"Of course he has the ability to mark an era in Madrid," Emery told AS.
"Advise which league to play in? When I was in France, I love that he was there because I enjoyed it. When I went to England, I would have liked him to play in the Premier League.
"And if I return to Spain, I want him to be here."
Mbappe has already won three Ligue 1 titles with PSG – and another with Monaco – while he helped France to their World Cup success in 2018.
While Emery believes the attacker can be happy at PSG, he said there may be aspects that left Mbappe unfulfilled.
"Look, surely there will be things from PSG that fill you up and maybe some will not, and there may be Real Madrid," he said.
"We are lucky to have and export the two best teams in the world, which are Real Madrid and Barcelona, and I would like them to continue having the best players in the world."
The Reds have been linked with a move for the Paris Saint-Germain star, who has been prolific in French football since breaking through at Monaco.
Mbappe has also shone in the Champions League and was part of France's World Cup-winning squad in Russia two years ago.
Signing Mbappe would be regarded by many as a statement of intent from runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool, but former Anfield favourite McAteer is not so sure – with RB Leipzig's Timo Werner and Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho higher on his wish list.
"You can't stand still, you need to evolve. From a manager's perspective, always trying to stay two, three moves ahead," McAteer told Stats Perform News.
"It's Jurgen's job to visualise what he sees next season, preparing for upcoming seasons.
"PSG are a unique club, desperate to win the Champions League, put a fantastic squad together, [but] players want a bigger challenge.
"The Mbappe one for me doesn't sit quite right – a superstar in his own right, [but] not the right time to come to Liverpool.
"[I'm] not sure he’s Jurgen's kind of player. At the minute, just not for me.
"I'd rather see Werner or Sancho. We could see him [Mbappe] at Liverpool because he fits for different reasons, but for football, I just don't know that he fits at this current time."
Klopp's side sit 25 points clear at the top of the table, with action in England set to resume on June 17 as the Reds close in on a first top-flight title in 30 years.
Ligue 1, meanwhile, was ended in April with leaders PSG awarded the championship on a points-per-game basis.
France superstar Mbappe was in sensational form in the 2020-21 season, yet while PSG won the Coupe de France and Trophee des Champions, his efforts were not enough to help them successfully defend their Ligue 1 title, or propel them to Champions League glory.
In Europe's top five leagues, only Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowksi (48) scored more goals in all competitions than Mbappe, who managed 42 in 47 appearances, averaging out at one every 88.62 minutes.
Like Erling Haaland, Europe's other free-scoring youngster, Mbappe achieved at a greater rate than his expected goals (xG) number, which averaged out at 34.14, while also providing 11 assists.
Now, Mbappe will be looking to drive France to glory at Euro 2020, with Les Bleus kicking off their campaign against Germany on Tuesday.
However, while his current focus is on contributing to Didier Deschamps' side, speculation continues over Mbappe's future at club level.
PSG have already tied Neymar down to a new contract, but despite reported discussions, have yet to agree a deal with Mbappe, who could leave the club on a free at the end of next season.
And it seems Mbappe is considering his options, with the 22-year-old World Cup winner telling France Football: "I don't necessarily need to go fast. I have to make the right decision, which is difficult, and give myself every chance to make up my mind.
"I am in a place where I like myself, where I feel good. But is this the best place for me? I don't have the answer yet.
"I know that a project with or without me is not quite the same for the club."
Mbappe, however, insists he has been, and will continue to be, up front with PSG over his plans.
"PSG understand my feelings. Probably also because they know that I will not be sneaky," he added.
"Being a great player also proves itself outside the field where you have to know how to do things cleanly and with class."
Real Madrid have been heavily linked with Mbappe, with Carlo Ancelotti asked about the possibility of signing the player during his unveiling as Los Blancos' new head coach last week.
It remains to be seen as to whether Madrid would have the finances to pull off such a move this year, however, while Premier League champions Manchester City have also been rumoured to hold an interest.
Mbappe has long been tipped to swap Ligue 1 giants PSG for LaLiga powerhouse Madrid, while Premier League outfit Liverpool have also been linked previously.
The 22-year-old star is out of contract at the end of 2021-22, but PSG have remained defiant over Mbappe's future in the French capital.
Al-Khelaifi reiterated that stance as speculation grows heading into Euro 2020 and the off-season.
"I will be clear," Al-Khelaifi told L'Equipe. "Mbappe is going to stay in Paris.
"We will never sell I'm and he will never leave on a free [transfer]. Mbappe has everything he needs in Paris.
"Where can he go? What club, in terms of ambition, can compete with PSG today?
"All I can say is that things are going well, and I hope we can reach an agreement [on a new contract]. This is Paris, this is his country.
"He has a mission, not only to play football, but to promote Ligue 1, his country and his capital."
Mbappe enjoyed another remarkable season in which he scored more goals (21) and landed more shots on target (55) than anyone else in Ligue 1, though PSG were dethroned by Lille.
The France international also converted 60.5 per cent of his big chances – a rate that would help ease Madrid's problems with lack of goals outside of Karim Benzema.
The Belgium forward's nine-year stay at the Serie A club came to an end following the 2021-22 season after he rejected the offer of a new contract.
Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis previously said Mertens turned down the offer of a new deal because he wanted more money, telling Radio Kiss Kiss: "I presented him with €4million per season gross and he refused.
"So I said thank you very much... I need to have money to buy young players who can represent Napoli in future seasons."
In a message posted to his social media on Wednesday, Mertens said: "Dear Neapolitans, I knew this day would eventually come, but I didn't know how difficult it would be to say goodbye."
He also went on to praise the city of Naples for "adopting" him, pointing out that his son Ciro, who features in the video with him, was born in the city.
The former PSV man added: "I did not leave as I would have liked" before finishing with: "this is not farewell, only goodbye."
The Partenopei have seen Lorenzo Insigne, David Ospina, Kalidou Koulibaly and Arkadiusz Milik also depart during this transfer window, with Mertens leaving as the club's record goalscorer with 148 goals.
He scored 11 times in 30 Serie A games last season, with his 126 minutes per goal the fourth-best return of any player in the Italian top flight to have netted at least 10 times.
Mertens, who has been linked with Inter, Juventus and Marseille, made 397 appearances for Napoli in all, placing him behind Insigne (434), Antonio Juliano (505), Giuseppe Bruscolotti (511) and Marek Hamsik (520).
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner sent shockwaves through the football world last week by informing Barca of his intention to leave.
However, LaLiga disputed Messi's claim that he could leave on a free transfer courtesy of a clause in his contract, meaning any potential suitor would have to negotiate with Barca or pay his €700million release clause.
Messi announced on Friday he will now remain at Camp Nou because the financial demands made by the Barca board for a transfer to happen rendered such a prospect "impossible".
And Mexico icon Sanchez, who has been critical of Messi during the saga, blamed the 33-year-old's failed exit strategy on his representatives.
"That untimely burofax only strengthened the image of the president of Barcelona and gave him time to weaken Messi's decision," he told ESPN.
"Messi has had no choice but to stay at Barcelona due to bad advice from his father and the law firm, because they could have saved that burofax. That has caused weakness to his image within the team.
"Coincidentally, Messi had the lawyers who had previously worked with Barcelona, but due to a conflict of interest, the Catalan club changed its strategy.
"If Messi and his father already had the decision to leave Barcelona, they should not have waited in time.
"But before the end of the term agreed in the contract, they had to tell the club that they wanted to leave at the end of the season and on a free, without paying any compensation. If they had it planned, it should have been done that way."
He added: "Messi's second problem was to send that burofax without certainty and guaranteeing that they had a team that would pay the €700m, which, due to the pandemic, no team in the world that can invest that amount."
Messi is now expected to re-evaluate his future at the end of the 2020-21 season with Inter, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City possible destinations should he finally leave the club he has represented since the age of 13.
"He has no choice but to drink several garlic and water teas in these next eleven months," Sanchez said.
"Messi likes to win titles and will need to look for another team where he can win championships and prove that he is the best player ever.
"The whole problem with Barcelona is going to distract him next season, in such a way that there will be doubts both about his behaviour and the fact that he is not the same young man who ran all over the pitch."
Messi is contracted to Barca until 2021 but a report emerged on Thursday claiming the six-time Ballon d'Or winner wants to leave next year.
The superstar captain put question marks over his future to one side on Sunday, producing a masterclass in Barca's 4-1 LaLiga rout of Villarreal.
Messi reached 19 LaLiga assists for the season – his best tally in Spain's top flight – and Bartomeu was asked about the 33-year-old post-match.
"I am not going to explain the details of what is happening every week. There are negotiations with many players," Bartomeu told Movistar.
"Messi has always expressed that he wants to end his career at Barcelona."
Bartomeu was also asked about under-fire head coach Quique Setien after Barca stayed within four points of bitter rivals Real Madrid with four games remaining.
Two-time defending champions Barca are on track to be dethroned by Madrid this season, with Setien reportedly set to be axed.
But Bartomeu said: "I know there are rumours. It is totally false.
"Quique Setien has the confidence of everyone, of the players, of the board, he is doing a great job.
"There are four games left and then we have the Champions League. We have important games to play this season."
Barca face bottom side Espanyol in Wednesday's LaLiga derby.
Higuain is preparing for his second full season in MLS with Inter Miami, having joined from Juventus in September 2020.
Although the striker's goalscoring exploits had regressed slightly towards the end of his time in Europe, Higuain was still regarded as a major coup for both Inter and MLS, where his older brother Federico has plied his trade since 2012.
MLS has previously been considered a competition where fading stars from Europe went to see out the remainder of their careers, with the likes of Thierry Henry, Andrea Pirlo, David Villa and Steven Gerrard all doing just that.
But the perception is changing slightly – it is becoming a proving ground for young talent, a viable stepping stone to Europe for South American players and even a place for established European stars who are still at the height of their powers.
Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne highlighted the shift last month by agreeing an end-of-season move to Toronto despite being virtually in his prime. While any MLS switch for Messi, already 34, would look a little more like a final pre-retirement move, Higuain reckons he would enjoy himself.
"It is a very important league and it is growing a lot," Higuain told Stats Perform.
"Important players are coming and I think that in the future it will continue to grow much more.
"I hope [Messi goes to MLS] because it would be a benefit for MLS and for the country, and if he so wishes he would have fun and be happy here."
Inter begin their 2022 MLS campaign at home to Chicago Fire on Saturday, with the David Beckham-backed franchise hoping to enjoy a major improvement from last season.
Phil Neville's side finished 11th in the 14-team Eastern Conference in 2021, a place above Saturday's opponents, while their points total of 41 was better than only six teams across the two MLS divisions.
It would seem Inter may have struggled even more were it not for Higuain, who scored 12 times. His haul of nine non-penalty (np) goals matched up well with his np-xG (expected goals) of 8.7, suggesting the team could really profit from dependable finishing if the service to him improves.
And bettering that return in front of goal is high on Higuain's list of priorities.
"We are fine, looking forward to [the start of the season] and very excited," he said. "It's so close now, let's hope it goes better than last year and we learn from the mistakes made so that this year it doesn't happen again. We are excited to have a good year.
"I want to improve my numbers, which I did my whole career, improve year after year. I hope that this year I can do better to help the team qualify [for the playoffs] and be able to compete for MLS.
"I hope I can improve my numbers, that's my goal and that's what I've prepared this pre-season."
The Argentina superstar is out of contract with Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the campaign and has been continually linked with a return to Barcelona, whom he left in 2021, but The Times reports Messi will instead move to MLS.
Inter Miami are said to be 'confident' Messi will sign following the conclusion of the World Cup in Qatar, where he has scored in both of Argentina's group stage matches, though he would not move until the conclusion of PSG's season.
Co-owned by David Beckham, Inter Miami will reportedly make Messi the highest-paid player in MLS history and they are considering further additions to complement his arrival.
Luis Suarez and Cesc Fabregas, Messi's former team-mates at Barcelona, are specifically named as options, the former having enjoyed a brief second stint Uruguayan side Nacional earlier this year while Fabregas is in the Italian second tier with Como.
A move for Messi would occur midway through the MLS season, which begins in February, and would provide a huge boost to North American soccer ahead of the World Cup in 2026, which the USA will host alongside Canada and Mexico.
Reports broke on Sunday that claimed the Argentina superstar was close to an agreement that would see him move to the United States after his contract with PSG expires next year.
Such a move would provide a huge boost to the sport in North America ahead of the World Cup in 2026, which will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico, with Messi previously indicating a desire to play in MLS.
However, his representative Marcelo Mendez has dubbed the reports as "fake news" and made it clear discussions are not taking place.
"It's false, it's fake news. There is no negotiation for Lionel to join Inter Miami next season," Mendez told CNN.
Messi is currently focused on leading Argentina to glory in the World Cup, having scored in both of his side's matches so far – including the opening goal in the crucial victory over Mexico on Saturday.
Argentina meet Poland on Wednesday, where victory will secure a spot in the knockout stage. A draw would also be enough if Saudi Arabia and Mexico finishes level in the other Group C match.
Neymar left Barca for Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record €222million transfer in 2017, but the Brazil star continues to be linked with a Camp Nou return.
The PSG forward reportedly tried to engineer a move back to Barca at the start of the season, though a transfer did not materialise, despite the club's best efforts.
Messi, who has made no secret of his desire to reunite with Neymar, told Mundo Deportivo: "I say it many times, at the sports level, Ney is one of the best in the world and I would love for him to return.
"He is really looking forward to coming back, he always seemed sorry [after leaving]. He did a lot to return and that would be the first step to try to arrive."
Neymar's decision to leave Barca almost three years ago angered some of his former team-mates but Messi said: "It is normal for people to see him that way because of the way he left, it also bothered me at the time, we tried to convince him not to.
"But in the end we all want to win and have the best. We and the people. As I said before, he is one of the best and contributed for us a lot on the pitch. But it is understandable that people think like that, since he left in a way they did not like."
Barca have also been linked to Inter forward Martinez as the LaLiga champions eye a long-term replacement for Luis Suarez.
Martinez reportedly has a €111m release clause amid links to Barca, Manchester United, Manchester City and Real Madrid.
Messi knows Martinez well as the pair are international team-mates for Argentina and the Barca captain hailed his compatriot.
"He is spectacular, he has impressive conditions," Messi said. "He was seen to be a great player, now he exploded and is showing it. He is very strong. He has a very good one against one, he has a lot of goals, in the area he fights with anyone. Lautaro has a lot of quality. He is very complete."
Messi continued: "I wish they could all come and fight it all, and the Champions League. Lautaro has much resemblance to Luis."
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner last month announced his intention to leave his only senior club after a dismal 2019-20 season.
But with Barca insisting either Messi or any suitor would be required to pay his €700milllion release clause, their captain will instead remain at Camp Nou.
Messi is far from the first sports star to perform a U-turn when considering his future, though...
CRISTIANO RONALDO
Messi's great rival similarly tried to force a move in 2008, albeit Ronaldo was on a high after winning the Champions League with Manchester United.
The Portuguese had his heart set on a transfer to Real Madrid and made his desire clear as he publicly agreed with Sepp Blatter's claim keeping a player at a club against his will was like "modern slavery".
United would not budge, though, and Ronaldo stayed for another year and returned to the Champions League final, this time losing to Messi's Barca before finally getting his dream move to Madrid.
LUIS SUAREZ
Suarez, one of Messi's closest friends and a Barca team-mate, followed Ronaldo in attempting to leave a year before getting a big switch.
In 2013, the Liverpool forward announced his intention to depart Anfield, complaining of the media attention he received in England amid racism and biting scandals. Arsenal made a bid which appeared to activate a £40m release clause, but Liverpool insisted Suarez must stay.
As with Ronaldo, Suarez only stuck around for another season but was inspirational as the Reds came agonisingly close to the Premier League title. He then belatedly left to link up with Messi at Camp Nou.
KOBE BRYANT
Messi is not the first one-team man to come close to a move before backtracking. Lakers great Bryant, who would end his career with five titles in Los Angeles, briefly pushed for a trade in 2007.
Bryant had won three championships at that stage, but none since the final year of their three-peat in 2002, and openly discussed his frustration at the direction of the franchise while fuming at claims he was behind Shaquille O'Neal's exit from the team.
These issues came to a head as Bryant told the media he wanted a trade, but his U-turn proved far swifter than Messi's, quickly continuing his historic Lakers career.
BRETT FAVRE
Messi's return to the Barca fold has at least already proven more successful than Favre's attempted U-turn in 2008. After 17 seasons in the NFL, including 16 with the Green Bay Packers, the quarterback announced he was retiring.
But Favre then decided before the start of the new season he wanted to return to the Packers, who had by now been preparing with Aaron Rodgers – previously his understudy – in the role.
Barca may not have a ready-made Messi replacement, but Rodgers was more than capable of stepping up, meaning Favre had no job to return to. The veteran was instead sent to the New York Jets and failed to make the playoffs.
Messi is only under contract with Paris Saint-Germain until the end of the season and the mercurial forward has been strongly linked with a move to Miami.
Barcelona are also said to be keen to bring Messi back to Camp Nou in what would be a sensational return to a club he made a tearful farewell to in August 2021.
Inter head coach Neville, who signed a new contract on Monday, spoke of his admiration for Messi but refused to be drawn on speculation that he could move to Major League Soccer.
Asked about the possibility of signing Messi, the former Manchester United defender said: "I think that's hypothetical really. The best player in the world, I'm looking forward to seeing him play at the World Cup, alongside other great players.
"We actually let him inside our house about five, six weeks ago, when Argentina were here. I watched all the sessions to see those great players on our pitch one and pitch two. It was something really special for the club.
"And I think when you talk about characters, when you talk about humility, when you talk about the right type of people, that Argentinian squad and staff were absolutely incredible. Incredible towards our football club.
"We had a little scrimmage against them, the MLS 2 [MLS Next Pro] side, you obviously saw the pictures of their players signing autographs; signing arms, signing legs, signing shoes. It was just the most incredible week.
"I think we're really lucky here. We've had Barcelona here, we've had Argentina here, we've got the US national women's team here now, some of the players are training out there now. It's brilliant for this football club, and it shows the level of facility that we've got.
"I'm not going to speculate on any kind of transfer activity, but what I would say is that is exactly the type of character that I saw in that week, that those Argentinian players were a credit to their country, and to their profession."
Inter sporting director Chris Henderson also gave little away when quizzed about potentially bringing Messi to Florida.
He said: "I knew Messi would come up. It's great to be connected with amazing players and our club connected with that. I don't want to comment on someone who's not on our roster and speculation and rumours.
"But obviously, one of the greatest players to ever play the game. As far as the roster and what we're looking to improve for going for next year. I think continuing to look for players who are good in possession under pressure in the final third."
Henderson added: "Messi on any team in the world is going to change that team. I don't want to speculate and talk about him on our team, but he changes every league, every team that he plays for."
Messi's future has been shrouded in uncertainly for the best part of a year, with the six-time Ballon d'Or winner attempting to force a departure from Barcelona last August.
While that did not come to fruition, with Messi unwilling to drag the club through the courts in an attempt to exercise an apparent get-out clause, his future has been a constant source of speculation through 2020-21 due to his contract expiring at the end of June.
Barca president Joan Laporta said this month that contract discussions were going well, with Messi seemingly happier at the club since the October resignation of Josep Maria Bartomeu and the previous board.
Although a move to Miami would seem unlikely at this juncture regardless of Messi's relationship with Barca, Jorge Mas, co-owner of the MLS side, sees no reason why an agreement would not be possible in the future.
"I am optimistic Messi will play in an Inter Miami shirt because I think it will complete the legacy of the greatest player in our generation and will meet with the ambitions of the owners of Inter Miami to build a world-class team," Mas told the Miami Herald.
Former Real Madrid, Manchester United and England star David Beckham is among the others to own a share of the MLS franchise and also serves as its president.
Mas says he and Beckham have certain ambitions regarding the calibre of player they want to see in Florida, and someone of Messi's reputation fits the bill.
He added: "David and I have been working really hard, we have aspirations of bringing the best players here and Messi is a generational player, arguably the best player of all time."
MLS has long been considered a likely end-of-career destination for Messi, but the intensity of such links has ramped up considerably in recent days, with media reports suggesting David Beckham-backed Inter are increasingly confident of luring the Paris Saint-Germain forward to MLS as early as next year.
Beckham was of course seen as something of a pioneer when he made the switch to LA Galaxy in 2007, and stars such as Thierry Henry, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Kaka, Andrea Pirlo and Didier Drogba all followed over the next decade.
But before MLS, the North American Soccer League (NASL) had served a similar purpose for ageing superstars in the 1970s and 80s, with Brazil legend Pele proving the trendsetter back then when he joined the Cosmos – Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, Gerd Muller, Eusebio, Bobby Moore and George Best all went on to feature in the NASL before it collapsed after the 1984 season.
For all the history US soccer has with the biggest names in the sport, Friedel thinks nothing that has gone before could compare with the impact Messi's arrival would have.
"So, we had David Beckham over here, which was one of the best signings that MLS ever made for notoriety around the world," he told Stats Perform.
"And in today's day and age with social media, everyone's sort of a journalist with their phones these days, and how quickly media gets around the world.
"[Messi to MLS] would be unlike anything anyone's ever seen in this country, including when Pele was over here, just because of the way the media is.
"It would be incredible if Lionel Messi was playing in this league. The fans that he attracts, the global respect, how good he has been.
"If they can pull that off… I'm not generally [in favour of] the older player coming in [to MLS], but like [Giorgio] Chiellini and [Gareth] Bale were [signed] for a reason and [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic was for a reason, then work out that if you can get Messi, get him over here."
Although Messi's PSG contract expires next year, Inter should not expect a free run at the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner.
PSG are still reportedly confident of securing a contract extension, while officials from Messi's former club Barcelona have spoken openly about their desire to bring him back to Camp Nou.
Maradona – arguably football's greatest ever player – died at the age of 60 after suffering heart failure last month.
Napoli renamed their stadium to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in honour of the 1986 World Cup winner, who guided the Serie A side to their only Scudetto triumphs in 1987 and 1990 after arriving from Barca in 1984.
Messi removed his Barca shirt to reveal a Newell's Old Boys jersey emblazoned with Maradona's famous number 10 after scoring in last month's 4-0 LaLiga rout of Osasuna.
But former Barca team-mate Boateng wants six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi – who has been heavily linked to Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain – to do more to pay tribute to his countryman.
"I often hear of the comparison between Messi and Maradona and therefore I'll make a proposal to Leo," Boateng, who now plays for Serie B outfit Monza alongside Mario Balotelli, told ESPN.
"He should go to Napoli after his contract with Barcelona expires. It would be great if he himself called [president Aurelio] De Laurentiis and said: 'I'm coming'.
"Even if they have retired the No 10 shirt, 'I would like to honour Maradona's No 10 and come and play for a year or two at Napoli', without thinking about money, just the heart.
"Maybe then he manages to win a championship and then it would be the apotheosis, a movie story.
"If I were him, I would think about it. By now, he has won everything at club level, closing in a legendary way would be incredible."
