Lionel Messi Talk Shunned As Pep Guardiola Reveals Manchester City’s Secret Captain

Pep Guardiola doesn’t view himself as a deal maker as regards to any switch ambitions Manchester Metropolis might need in the direction of Lionel Messi. (More Football News)

Messi sought to finish a career-long affiliation with Barca within the aftermath of their humiliating 8-2 Champions League quarter-final loss to Bayern Munich, with Metropolis then broadly considered because the frontrunners for his signature.

Nevertheless, Barcelona disputed Messi’s assertion {that a} clause in his contract permitting him to go away free of charge on the finish of the 2019-20 marketing campaign remained legitimate, and the Argentina famous person stayed at Camp Nou.

Chatting with La Sexta on the finish of final month, Messi pledged to not resolve his future till the tip of this season, whereas additionally outlining his “dream” of dwelling in the USA.

This makes a deal involving a reunion together with his previous mentor Guardiola, plus an possibility to change to Metropolis’s MLS affiliate New York Metropolis, look theoretically enticing.

However talking forward of Sunday’s FA Cup third-round conflict in opposition to Birmingham Metropolis, the previous Barca and Bayern boss refused to fan any flames of a possible switch inferno.

“He’s a participant for one more membership, I am sorry. All the time I attempt to reply your questions however I am not… he’s a participant from Barcelona,” Guardiola stated.

“Concerning the switch market, you realize my opinion, it is about Txiki [Begiristain, City’s director of football]. I do not like to speak about gamers who should not right here or gamers possibly extending their contract.

“All the time I consider one of the best ways to speak about that is behind the scenes as a result of my feedback is not going to resolve or break some deal, particularly the gamers who should not right here.

“I respect lots all of the gamers who play in different groups.”

Guardiola did specific a shock contract want when it got here to the way forward for one other worldwide in his thirties.

Former England goalkeeper Scott Carson has spent the previous season and a half on mortgage at Metropolis from Derby County, serving as an skilled third-choice possibility.

He’s but to play a minute of senior soccer for Guardiola – one thing that won’t change this weekend after a constructive coronavirus check – however the supervisor insists Carson’s affect upon Ederson, Zack Steffen and the squad as an entire has been invaluable.

“One keeper who’s so vital for us is Scott Carson,” he stated of the 35-year-old. “He’s like our captain behind the scenes.

“He isn’t seen as a result of he’s the third keeper, however within the locker room he’s one other captain.

“It’s so vital and hopefully he can keep longer with us within the subsequent years.”