Manchester City would reportedly be willing to use Eric Garcia and Angelino as weights in a deal to sign Lionel Messi, if they could not get the Barcelona star for free.
Messi shocked the football world on Tuesday night when it became clear that he had informed Barcelona that he wanted to leave the club in the course of their humiliating 8-2 defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner has asked the club’s hierarchy to honor a clause in his contract that could leave him for nothing at the end of the season, but it does not seem like it will be that simple. be like that,
The date for activating the clause passed in June, but Messi’s camp believes it is still valid due to the lengthy nature of the season. Barca do not agree with this and will only leave their record goal scorer if their 700 euro million voluntary clause is met. So his future remains uncertain.
City were immediately installed as favorites to sign Messi after the bombing and, according to ESPN, they will be ready to make a move, even if he is not available for free.
It is claimed that the Blues would consider spending between € 100 and € 150 million to praise him away from the Camp Nou and that they could include players in the deal, namely Barca directing Garcia and Angelino.
The report also adds that the club is offering a long-term deal to Messi who would spend three years at the Etihad before joining sister club New York City FC and becoming an ambassador for the City Football Group.
MEN Sport understands that, while City see themselves as well placed to make a move for Messi, several obstacles stand in the way of the deal, as Pep Guardiola has repeatedly stated that the 33-year-old’s career at Barca and a new center-back is the priority this summer.
Elsewhere, Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has denied reports of joining City.
Despite having already signed Nathan Ake, City want to bring in another center this summer and the club has been linked with the Italian again and again in the past.
Di Marzio reports that although Bonucci was flattered by City’s interest, he decided to stay at Juventus and negotiations between the clubs did not even begin as a result.
Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly is the top target of the city this summer.
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