Man City won’t move for Messi

Manchester City will not be trying to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona, says Semra Hunter, La Liga TV presenter.

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner wanted to leave Barcelona this summer as a free agent, quoting the release clause in his contract allowing him to do so at the end of each season, but the Catalan club refused to agree to that and claimed that the clause had expired. In the end, Messi decided not to take ‘the club he loves’ to court and stayed put. However, his contract expires at the end of this season and unless he signs a new one, he’ll certainly be able to leave for free.

The 33-year-old Argentina captain was heavily linked with Manchester City, where he would be reunited with Pep Guardiola who signed a two-year extension on his deal a few days ago, but it seems that won’t be happening now. Hunter told Sky Sports that he has it from ‘someone close to the situation’ that the door for Messi to join City is closed, due to his age and the huge financial implications of any potential deal to bring him to the Etihad.