Lionel Messi admits Javier Mascherano wants to leave Barcelona next month.

Mascherano is pushing to leave Barca next month for China.

"I know Mascherano and I talked to him, I will not say what he said, but I fully understand that he wants to play more," said Messi. "To end up playing and not sitting on the bench, no matter how good the bench of Barcelona is.

"I understand that the most beautiful thing is to play and enjoy and he sees that he does not have the possibility here to play the minutes he wants and he wants to look elsewhere and it is understandable."