Barcelona hero Carles Puyol is happy Lionel Messi eventually chose to stay this season.

Messi submitted before withdrawing a transfer request ahead of the start of the campaign.

"I like all culé did not want Messi to leave, but it is football," Puyol said at a Gazzetta dello Sport function.

"In the end he decided to stay, he recently said that he is motivated, that he is looking forward and hopefully he can continue with us for many years.

"He is a huge asset for Laliga, he is the best in the world."

Of his own career, Puyol added: “I received offers from other teams, Italian and English. I have never hidden that I would have liked to play for Milan, to play with Paolo Maldini, who for me is an idol. The Milan back then was in a good time, but I'm very happy to have stayed at Barcelona."