MANCHESTER CITY are confident of landing Lionel Messi on a free transfer this summer but can afford him regardless, reports claim.
The Barcelona star is up for grabs after last night shocking the football world by confirming his desire to leave Camp Nou.
Guardiola managed Messi at Barcelona between 2008 and 2012Credit: AP:Associated Press
Messi, 33, is being chased by the likes of Manchester United, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
But City, led by the Argentine’s former boss Pep Guardiola, are viewed by many to be in the driving seat.
Messi’s representatives believe that a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave this summer for free should not have expired in June because of the extended season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
And according to Mundo Deportivo’s Francesc Aguillar, City chief executive Ferran Soriano believes that his side will successfully swoop in and take the six-time Ballon d’Or winner for free.
The 53-year-old, however, has reached out to Messi’s camp to assure them that City can afford to sign him – even if they have to pay a transfer fee.
Barcelona have previously insisted that they will demand his £630million release clause in full if they are to sell their star asset.
But City chiefs are confident that they can negotiate this fee down, if needs be.
According to Radio Catalunya, Messi has contacted former mentor Guardiola in recent days to ask him about reuniting at Man City.
Their fiercest competition for Messi’s signature could come from Inter Milan.
The Serie A side are keen on bringing him to Italy – and renewing his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo in the process.
Messi’s former agent Josep Maria Minguella told Spanish radio station Cope: “For me, Messi already has a team: Inter.
Messi and Guardiola have met in the Champions LeagueCredit: Reuters
“In Italy they pay less taxes for what could be, in fact, there is Cristiano Ronaldo.
“It is more difficult for me to see him in England no matter how much his friend Aguero and Guardiola are in City.
“Now in Italy they are trying to revitalise the world of football with great signings and with these advantages in the advertising contracts of the footballers.”
Lionel Messi ‘has contacted old Barcelona mentor Pep Guardiola’ to tell him he wants Man City transfer
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
