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A source close to Lionel Messi has expressed surprise after reports emerged claiming Manchester City are close to signing the Barcelona captain in a gigantic deal.
According to the Daily Record, City Football Group (CFG) has agreed to a five-year contract with Messi worth £ 623 million that will see him play for City for three seasons before ending his career with New York City in MLS. .
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The situation surrounding Lionel Messi and his transfer plans remains unclear
The player’s agent and father, Jorge, is currently engaged in crucial conversations with the Barça leadership as he tries to negotiate his son’s departure from the Camp Nou.
Messi’s current deal expires in 2021, but the 33-year-old claims a clause was written into his contract that would allow him to leave for free as long as he informed the club that he wanted to leave 20 days before the start of a new season.
Barça disagrees because Messi’s decision was made in August, despite the extension of the season due to COVID-19, insisting that any club wishing to buy the player must comply with its buyout clause of 622 million. of pounds (700 million euros).
However, a source has told The Athletic that the prospect of moving to the Etihad is a real shock considering how Messi’s relationship with Pep Guardiola began to deteriorate while they were together in Catalonia.
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Jorge Mendes is harassed on the way to meet Barcelona
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Guardiola’s relationship with the Barça squad tightened according to a source
Furthermore, it is said that the Argentine ace always spoke highly of City’s rivals Manchester United, and even spoke of moving to London with his former teammate Cesc Fabregas.
“I always had the feeling that I wanted an experience abroad,” added the source. “Even more surprising than City is that he would work with Pep again.
“The relationship after so many intense seasons at Barcelona with Guardiola was not the best with the players.
“This was not Leo in particular. Leo and Pep had no direct problems but last season was not the best and the relationship between players and coach became very tired.
“Go and look at the players that Guardiola has signed at Bayern and City. You won’t find many who trained at Barça.
“The relationship between Guardiola and the players broke down in the end. However, time heals. Messi is not stupid.
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Former Arsenal and Chelsea star Fabregas spoke to Messi frequently about the appeal of London
Man City and Pep Guardiola ‘are the main candidates’ to sign Lionel Messi this summer, reveals Barcelona’s presidential candidate Víctor Font
“He knows his best moment was with Guardiola on the bench, so maybe he thinks he needs this guy to get the best of him.”
And moving to the Etihad appears to be the most likely possibility, according to a presidential candidate from Barcelona.
Victor Font joined talkSPORT on Wednesday morning and revealed that Man City is the favorite to secure Messi’s signing this summer.
“Only time will tell,” Font said. “What is clear is that Messi’s priority is to play for a team that can compete for the best trophies worldwide and in Europe.
“He wants to win more Champions and, obviously, Manchester City and Pep are the main candidates.”
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