Villarreal's emerging star attacker Luciano Vietto says it would be "a dream come true" to play alongside Barcelona's Lionel Messi.
Vietto, 21, has been outstanding since joining Villarreal for just €5.5 million last summer, scoring 18 goals in his first 36 appearances across La Liga, the Copa del Rey and Europa League.
Such displays have led to speculation that Europe's top clubs are ready to move for the Argentine youngster, with recent reports in the local press saying Barca saw him as a potential replacement for the apparently unsettled Pedro Rodriguez -- despite the Catalan outfit being unable to register new players until January 2016.
Vietto, who was congratulated by Messi after scoring at the Camp Nou in February, told Ole that he would be delighted to one day line up alongside his compatriot.
"Everyone dreams of playing alongside Messi," the youngster said. "Of course it would be a dream come true. I had the chance to meet him and also to get to know him off the pitch.
"He is a great person and made the great gesture of presenting me with his jersey. It is a memory I will retain for the rest of my life."
Asked about speculation linking him with a move to Barca, Arsenal or Real Madrid, Vietto was more cautious with his words.
"Being honest, I am very relaxed about this," he said. "I just try and think solely of Villarreal, in the week's training and performing game to game.
"I use all these rumours as motivation, to keep strengthening myself and improving. I have no doubts that if I keep doing well, all will arrive in its own time."
Atletico Madrid have also been credited with an interest in Vietto, who made his senior club debut for Racing Club when Diego Simeone was in charge at the Argentine club.
Vietto also scored the winner for Villarreal in the Liga clash at the Calderon last December, and added: "I had not spoken with [Simeone] since he left Racing.
"I took the opportunity [at December's game] to talk with him and thank him. Maybe in time we will be together again at some other team."