Barcelona, Jan 6 (IANS): Barcelona star Lionel Messi sent football fans and the world into a tizzy as news broke of the Argentine footballer following English club Chelsea's official account on online photo-sharing platform Instagram.

Twitter was abuzz with fans gung-ho about the possibility of Messi moving to the Premier League.

Messi's action comes a day after he was left out of the starting eleven that lost to Real Sociedad 0-1 in a La Liga encounter sparking rumours that he wanted to leave Nou Camp.

The talismanic forward also missed a training session Monday and later started following Chelsea, reports dailymail.co.uk.

The 27-year-old also started following Chelsea stars Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Filipe Luis on the photo-sharing platform.

However, Chelsea fans will do well to note that the four-time player of the year also follows Manchester City, Newell’s Old Boys, Argentina and Barcelona on Instagram.

Spanish international Cesc Fabregas, when quizzed about Messi, had said last month that he would love to have him playing alongside him for the Blues after their stint at Barcelona.

"I wish! Why not? I'd love that to happen. I'd be all for it," said Fabregas.