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Kevin De Bruyne is not shaken by rumors that Lionel Messi could leave Barcelona and join him at Manchester City.
City have been linked to a move to sign Messi and COO Omar Berrada said the club will be ready to strike if the Argentine allows his contract with Barcelona to expire next summer.
City appear to be the obvious choice for Messi given that former Barça manager Pep Guardiola is his coach, but the Belgian midfielder has downplayed speculation about a possible play.
Asked about Messi before Belgium’s game against England on Sunday, live Sky sportsDe Bruyne said: “I really don’t mind being honest.
“If he comes, it’s a good thing, if there aren’t enough good players in the club that I enjoy playing with, so it’s not for now,” he said.
De Bruyne in Premier League action vs Wolves
De Bruyne also revealed that he is open to signing a new contract at City, but said talks have yet to start.
The Belgian international, who will play England at Wembley, has been a key part of City’s success in recent years and has won numerous club and individual awards.
He has two and a half years to execute his current contract and reports suggest that he is ready to extend it.
De Bruyne said: “I am very happy at the club, I can say now that I have not spoken once with the club, so I do not know why people say that I have already agreed on something.”
Sunday October 11 4:00 pm
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“I always told everyone that I am very happy at the club and I feel comfortable, so if the people at the club want to talk to me, I am open to that and we will see what happens.
“But at the moment nothing has happened, so I keep going.”
De Bruyne: England could win Euro 2020 and the World Cup
The Manchester City midfielder believes that England is capable of winning Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.
By being a part of the Premier League, De Bruyne has seen first-hand the talent currently in the England squad and is leaning them to make their mark in the next two major tournaments.
“I think they should be very excited. They are a very young team with a lot of potential and I think they should aspire to win the next European Championship and the World Cup. I think they have that potential,” he said.
“There are always many teams that want to win, but I think the team they have, the players who play for the best clubs, they should.
Belgium are currently the top-ranked team in the world and beat England twice in the 2018 World Cup, but they won’t feature key men Dries Mertens and Eden Hazard on Sunday.
“It is going to be a difficult test, but these are the tests that are necessary for us to see what is going to happen against a great team,” said the 29-year-old.
“With the personnel that we are losing at the moment it will be a bit more difficult, but we are sure that we can play a good game tomorrow.”
Suárez: Messi could be convinced to stay at Barça
Atlético de Madrid forward Luis Suárez believes that Messi, his former Barcelona teammate, could be tempted to stay at Barça beyond this season if there is a change at the club at the board level.
Suarez left Barcelona last month but said he was left crying over the treatment he received from the club after he was told his services were no longer needed.
Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi
Messi has also criticized the operation of the club and has criticized president Josep Maria Bartomeu this summer after he was forced to stay at the club.
But the former Liverpool striker is optimistic that Messi, who can start negotiating with other clubs from January, could have a future in Catalonia beyond this season, provided Bartomeu retires.
“Maybe there is the possibility that he will play for another club, but if he feels comfortable and happy, and a new board comes in, he will want to stay at the club,” Atlético de Madrid forward Suárez told the ESPN 90 Minutes television program. .
“As a friend I will be happy if he does well (at Barça), but also if he goes to another club.”
Bartomeu has called club elections for March 2021, but could be expelled sooner, with a vote of no confidence to be cast against him and the board.
Southgate faces selection problems ahead of England-Belgium
England manager Gareth Southgate is struggling with selection problems ahead of Sunday’s crucial Nations League clash with Belgium at Wembley.
Tottenham forward Harry Kane and Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire are among the players expected to return to Wembley after having rested against Wales.
But how will Gareth Southgate update his lineup for this ordeal of the Nations League?
Read more about Southgate’s dilemmas and possible options here.
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