Sergi Roberto acknowledges that the details surrounding Lionel Messi's departure from Barcelona in 2021 remain unclear, with the Argentine's emotional farewell from Camp Nou still resonating.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner left for Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent, unable to secure new terms with Barcelona upon the expiration of his contract.

Sergi Roberto, also a La Masia Academy graduate, expressed his astonishment at witnessing the departure of the iconic Argentine, who was anticipated to retire as a one-club man.

Sergi Roberto has told the B3TTer podcast: “Leo Messi’s departure shocked me a lot. Neither I nor my teammates expected it. We thought he was going to renew. It’s been a few years now, but nobody knows what really happened in those days. I thought he was going to play here his whole career.

"Leo Messi is the best player in the club’s history and in football history… You expect to see him the next day in training, but suddenly he’s not there. It’s like the club was starting from scratch.

"He was part of all of the good years for the club. You never see him talk about how he’s the best or how important he is to others. He always looks out for the team’s best interests.”

There have been suggestions that Sergi Roberto could reunite with Messi at MLS side Inter Miami as his own contract at Barcelona runs out.

The versatile 31-year-old said of potentially chasing the American dream: “With Xavi as the coach, I feel very comfortable. I have his confidence. At the end of the season, if the club is happy with me, I will continue. I’m talking to Barca. At the moment, I’m not going to go to another team.

"Everything that is said about me going to Miami or Palmeiras... it’s all lies. It’s true that I would like to have experience in the MLS in the future, but it is not yet the time for it. At the moment, I say that I want to stay at Barca. Maybe in a year, I will tell you that I want another experience in Europe or the United States but this will be in the future. I don’t think that will happen suddenly.”

Messi has already been joined in Florida by former Blaugrana team-mates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

Luis Suarez is expected to be the next ex-Barca superstar to make his way to DRV PNK Stadium, with the Uruguayan striker hitting free agency after severing ties with Brazilian side Gremio.