City boss Guardiola, who led Barca to the 2009 and 2011 Champions League titles, recently denied a report that he tried to sign Messi in the summer but added: "Maybe he wants to go somewhere else, maybe he wants his kids to speak English.
"If it happens there would be a list of six, seven or eight clubs who want to sign him and it will be down to Messi where he wants to go."
Asked ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash between City and Barcelona if he was annoyed by Guardiola's words, Bartomeu said: "No, not annoyed.
"This is a decision for Leo Messi or for any player to change club. Right now Leo Messi has a contract to the end of the Russian World Cup [in 2018] and we are very happy with him. Very happy. He's the best player in the world, by far."
He added: "I don't know what will happen in the future but of course we will always try to explain to him that he is at the best club in the world and this is the best place for him to live and he is living the best experience of his life with us."
He said he is certain that Messi is the finest player in history "because I have seen in this stadium players like [Diego] Maradona, Ronaldinho, Johan Cruyff. I did not see Pele because I was too young but all the rest of the big players I saw and there was nobody like Leo Messi.
"It's not the way he plays but the fact that he plays like it every match, every match. How can he do it? Incredible."
Messi scored a hat trick as Barca defeated City 4-0 at the Camp Nou last month as Guardiola, whose Bayern Munich side lost 3-0 at the ground in 2015, endured another disappointing return.
Injured Players who will miss the match
Pique, Iniesta, A Vidal, Mathieu,Jordi Alba
The teams for the Manchester City - Barcelona match at Ethihad stadium
Barcelona Possible XI:
Messi, L Suarez, Neymar, I Rakitich, Rafina/Arda turan, S Bosquets, S Roberto, Umtiti, Macherano, L Digne, M Ter Stegen
On the bench: Arda Turan, A Gomez, D Suarez, P Alcacer, Jordi Masip
Manchester City Possible XI:
R Sterling, S Aguero, Nolito, Kevin De Bruyen, David Silva, Fernandinho, Pablo Zabaleta, N Otamendi, J Stones, A Kolarov, W Caballero
Substitues: Leroy sane, Kelechi Ilheanacho, Vincent company, I Gundogan, Fernando, Jesus Navas, Pablo Maffeo,
"If it happens there would be a list of six, seven or eight clubs who want to sign him and it will be down to Messi where he wants to go."
Asked ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash between City and Barcelona if he was annoyed by Guardiola's words, Bartomeu said: "No, not annoyed.
"This is a decision for Leo Messi or for any player to change club. Right now Leo Messi has a contract to the end of the Russian World Cup [in 2018] and we are very happy with him. Very happy. He's the best player in the world, by far."
He added: "I don't know what will happen in the future but of course we will always try to explain to him that he is at the best club in the world and this is the best place for him to live and he is living the best experience of his life with us."
He said he is certain that Messi is the finest player in history "because I have seen in this stadium players like [Diego] Maradona, Ronaldinho, Johan Cruyff. I did not see Pele because I was too young but all the rest of the big players I saw and there was nobody like Leo Messi.
"It's not the way he plays but the fact that he plays like it every match, every match. How can he do it? Incredible."
Messi scored a hat trick as Barca defeated City 4-0 at the Camp Nou last month as Guardiola, whose Bayern Munich side lost 3-0 at the ground in 2015, endured another disappointing return.
Injured Players who will miss the match
Pique, Iniesta, A Vidal, Mathieu,Jordi Alba
The teams for the Manchester City - Barcelona match at Ethihad stadium
Barcelona Possible XI:
Messi, L Suarez, Neymar, I Rakitich, Rafina/Arda turan, S Bosquets, S Roberto, Umtiti, Macherano, L Digne, M Ter Stegen
On the bench: Arda Turan, A Gomez, D Suarez, P Alcacer, Jordi Masip
Manchester City Possible XI:
R Sterling, S Aguero, Nolito, Kevin De Bruyen, David Silva, Fernandinho, Pablo Zabaleta, N Otamendi, J Stones, A Kolarov, W Caballero
Substitues: Leroy sane, Kelechi Ilheanacho, Vincent company, I Gundogan, Fernando, Jesus Navas, Pablo Maffeo,
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