Laporta confirmed that his Inter Milan counterpart Massimo Moratti was keen to land Messi at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza last summer.

Amid speculations that the Italian oil tycoon will be once again in pursuit of a deal with the 22-year-old in the winter, the Nou Camp chief laid stressed on his intention of keeping hold of the talented forward.

"Messi is not for sale, not for sale," Laporta said in an interview with Corriere dello Sport.

"He (Moratti) needs to forget about him.

"Did I tell Moratti? Yes. I won't even talk about such a move."

Messi is considered to be the frontrunner for the 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year award.

The evergreen frontman was an inspirational figure last season as Barcelona won the treble – the Primera Liga, the Champions League and the Spanish Cup.