Barcelona star Lionel Messi has refused to criticise Real Madrid over their £80 million Cristiano Ronaldo deal.

Messi told El Mundo Deportivo: "There is a club willing to buy and another to sell for that figure, that's all. It's football. I don't want to discuss the controversy of this issue because I am just paid to play football.

"I was surprised by the figure, it's normal. But this isn't my subject.

"These amounts are received by the club that sells and not the footballer."

On Barca's lack of signings, Messi added: "It's not a concern. We're a team of champions with three titles. That makes us one of the best."