La Liga president Javier Tebas admits the Spanish league are working on provisional plans to account for any drop in revenue if Lionel Messi leaves Barcelona.
Messi came close to ending his long association with Barcelona in the summer, but decided to stay to avoid a costly legal battle with the club he loves. Manchester City were strongly linked with Messi's signature at the time and view themselves as front-runners to land the Argentine were he to leave Catalonia.
Pep Guardiola said last week he hopes Messi ends his career at the Nou Camp, but the speculation linking him with a reunion at City has increased since Guardiola committed his future to the club for another two seasons.
So Tebas' latest comments might be of interest to City, as the outspoken La Liga chief admitted they are preparing for a potential transfer out of Spain for Messi.
"I remember I said [back in August] that Messi was not essential," Tebas said. "We are working in the event that [Messi's departure] happens one day. Players are very important but they are not essential. Any league which manages itself based on what player it will add makes a mistake.
"Stars can help you in certain regions but in order to be global, you need to have a good product. We have created a unique product. We have already signed our audiovisual rights for the next four seasons and in none of those contracts does it state that we will be paid less if these players leave.
"But I insist, I would like Messi to continue many years here. He is the best football player in the history and my wish is for him to end his playing career in Spain."
Tebas, a long-standing critic of City and their spending model, also indicated that he would like to see Guardiola return to Spain to manage one day.
"We always want the best," Tebas said. "I want [Lionel] Messi in La Liga. Just as I want Mourinho, Guardiola, Klopp, Cristiano [Ronaldo]... All of those would help us grow."
