Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has rejected claims he had an influence on Barcelona releasing Lionel Messi.

Florentino was seen on Saturday dining with Barca president Joan Laporta after it was announced Messi's contract wasn't to be renewed. The Argentine has since signed a two-year contract with PSG.

Florentino released a statement this morning: "In light of the statements made by Jaume Llopis, a former member of the Espai Barça Commission, I want to state the following: it is flatly false that I have been friends for a long time with the CEO of FC Barcelona, Ferran Reverter, since he is a person with whom I have only met twice in my life, once four months ago and the other last Saturday at the meeting that took place in Barcelona with president Joan Laporta and president Andrea Agnelli, when the official communication on Messi had already taken place.

"Therefore, it is impossible for me to have had any influence either on Messi's departure or on any other FC Barcelona decision.

"So, I hope that Jaume Llopis rectifies these statements that do not correspond to the truth as soon as possible."