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Manchester City haven’t given up on signing Lionel Messi on a free switch this summer time however will wait till March or April earlier than sounding out the state of affairs concerning the Barcelona ahead, numerous sources have informed ESPN.
Messi, 33, is out of contract in June and has been free to barter with different golf equipment since Jan. 1. Metropolis led the chase for the Argentina worldwide final August when he asked Barca to let him leave however the Premier League leaders have saved a low profile in current months.
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In distinction, Paris Saint-Germain have been making loads of noise about their want to signal Messi on the finish of the season.
Metropolis will bide their time and see how the state of affairs develops, even when PSG have taken a special strategy, an strategy which sources at Barca have informed ESPN is totally the improper technique to try to seduce Messi.
“PSG are making a mistake with the technique they’re utilizing,” one supply stated. “Leo would not like all that noise within the media and even much less the kind of feedback [which have been made].”
PSG’s sporting director Leonardo has confirmed the French champions are monitoring Messi’s situation, whereas coach Mauricio Pochettino and gamers Neymar and Angel Di Maria have publicly said that they’d welcome the Barca captain with open arms.
Di Maria even stated there was a “huge probability” of Messi signing for PSG — which led Barca coach Ronald Koeman to brand the French club “disrespectful” — however Metropolis will present stiff competitors if Messi does depart Camp Nou after 20 years in Catalonia.
Sources have informed ESPN that Metropolis are nonetheless monitoring Messi however have determined to undertake a much less aggressive tactic of their pursuit of his signature.
They employed the same technique final 12 months once they did loads of the groundwork. Pep Guardiola spoke with Messi on the cellphone to promote him Metropolis’s challenge, whereas sources have additionally informed ESPN that a number of members of the membership’s workers stay in common contact with Messi’s individuals.
After engaged on what was thought of a long-shot for a number of months, with no leaks, every little thing bubbled to the floor within the wake of Barca’s 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich within the Champions League.
When it turned clear Messi needed to depart Barca, they made their transfer in August, with Messi sending a burofax to the Blaugrana asking them to let him go. Metropolis had carried out in depth work on the numbers concerned within the deal — maintaining in thoughts Messi’s most up-to-date four-year contract at Barca netted him as much as €555 million — and believed they might signal him whereas adhering to UEFA’s monetary honest play guidelines.
Barca president on the time Josep Maria Bartomeu refused to let Messi go, although, pointing to his €700m launch clause. Messi believed he may depart without spending a dime however backed down moderately than taking the difficulty to court docket, ending Metropolis’s probabilities.
The state of affairs is completely different this time with Messi into the ultimate six months of his deal. Nonetheless, Messi has insisted he will not make any decision about his future till the season is over and sources near him have informed ESPN that he’s solely targeted on serving to Barca finish the season strongly.
Koeman’s facet are in good type, unbeaten in 11 video games in La Liga, and have a Copa del Rey semifinal in opposition to Sevilla and the primary leg of their Champions League tie in opposition to PSG to return subsequent week.
In addition to success on the pitch, Messi’s future may additionally hinge on who is available in as the brand new Barca president, with the election penciled in for March 7. Messi will take heed to the plans of the incoming president, with Joan Laporta, Victor Font and Toni Freixa the three candidates.
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