Lionel Messi: Manchester City distance themselves from move for Barcelona forward

Manchester Metropolis are distancing themselves from hyperlinks with a transfer for Barcelona ahead Lionel Messi.

The probability of one other early Champions League exit for Barcelona has fuelled hypothesis he’s might give up the Nou Camp.

Uncertainty stays because of the ongoing presidential elections at Barca, with all candidates saying they’re decided to maintain the 33-year-old.

Messi has gained six Ballon D’Or trophies in a stellar profession that has seen him usually accepted as one of many best gamers ever.

Metropolis have lengthy been touted instead, partly because of the hyperlink with former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola, though Paris St-Germain are additionally regarded as .

It has been reported Metropolis have tabled a revised supply for Messi however BBC Sport has been informed by a membership supply this isn’t true – and that no presents have been made, both in the summertime, or since and there are presently no talks.

Messi had seemed set to hitch Metropolis after placing in a switch request in August, just for Barcelona’s then-president Josep Maria Bartomeu to dam the transfer earlier than resigning in October.

‘Messi is a fantasy – Metropolis ought to decide Haaland’

Match of the Day pundit Jermaine Jenas, the previous Tottenham midfielder, believes Borussia Dortmund’s 20-year-old Norway striker Erling Braut Haaland is Manchester Metropolis’s best choice within the switch market.

Haaland has 25 targets in 24 appearances in all competitions this season for Bundesliga facet Dortmund, together with eight targets in 5 Champions League matches.

Talking on BBC Radio 5 Reside’s Friday Soccer Social, Jenas mentioned: “I do not suppose they want Messi. That deal goes to affect what they will do from a monetary truthful play standpoint.

“Manchester Metropolis want a striker. I would go together with Erling Haaland. That is the place they need to focus each penny of their checking account proper now.

“Go and get one in every of most enjoyable younger strikers on the planet. I do not suppose Kylian Mbappe is achievable, personally. Haaland is achievable and he is extra what they want than what they need.

“The Messi factor is a little bit of a fantasy. Its one thing we would all like to see however I am unsure its really in the perfect curiosity of Metropolis.”