MANCHESTER CITY are already lining up a summer transfer swoop for Lionel Messi, the Etihad’s top brass has revealed.
City were heavily linked with a move for the Barcelona great over the summer when he signalled his intention to quit the Nou Camp.
Manchester City are plotting their summer transfer swoop for Lionel MessiCredit: Rex Features
But after two weeks of negotiations and uncertainty, Messi eventually performed a U-turn and agreed to stay put for the final year of his contract.
Now, though, City are plotting their move to land the ‘best player in the world’ for free at the end of the season.
Chief operating officer Omar Berrada told the Manchester Evening News: “He’s an amazing talent, he’s somebody that can make a significant impact at any club in the world on and off the pitch immediately.
“He’s the best player in the world, he’s the best player of his generation.
“I think any club in the world would like to explore the possibility of him joining their team.
“The fact that it was commented that he wanted to come to play for City just shows you how far the team has come over the last years where the best talent of his generation potentially saying he wants to come and play for us.”
Messi will turn 34 a week before his Barcelona contract expires and would therefore be an exception to City’s usual transfer policy.
But with a goal and two assists in his first three LaLiga games this season, there is no doubt the six-time Ballon d’Or winner would be a major addition to any squad.
Messi could be reunited with former boss Pep Guardiola at the EtihadCredit: AP:Associated Press
Berrada added: “It’s hard to guess what could happen. If you think back to those two weeks where everything played out at Barcelona, it’s almost impossible to guess what will happen next summer.
“Messi is a generational talent, he’s the best player in the world and probably an exception to potential investments that we’d do out of the ordinary but our planning has been done with this current squad and it is being considered with the current opportunities that we have.
“For every single position we have to be prepared because there can be so many things that can happen but at the same time I think we have the financial strength and system ability to make that investment [in a striker] when required.
“That’s what puts us in a position where we feel comfortable that we’ll be able to take the right decision because it also doesn’t mean that we’ll have to rush into anything.
“First because Sergio [Aguero] and Gabriel [Jesus] are performing very well, they are two of the best strikers in the world right now, and when we do decide to bring in potentially someone else, whether it is next season or the one after that then we will be in a financial position to do it for the right price.”
Lionel Messi trains with the Barcelona squad
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
