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Manchester City have finished their search for Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, according to Spanish soccer expert Semra Hunter.
City was understood to be the favorite to sign Messi last summer, as they demanded to leave Barcelona during a bitter contract dispute, which culminated in the 33-year-old reluctantly staying at Camp Nou.
Messi is out of contract at the end of the season, which leaves him free to negotiate with other clubs from January and it seems more likely that he will meet former coach Pep Guardiola.
However, the Premier League club is no longer willing to sign the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, Hunter says, as his age and salary of 100 million euros a year (89 million pounds) are believed to be they are a decisive factor for City.
“I have the good authority of someone close to the situation that Manchester City are not going to bid for Lionel Messi,” Hunter said. Sky Sports News. “According to the information I have, as of today, that door is closed.
“They have their reasons for this. They have two reasons for this: age and finances. Speaking of age, he is heading into the twilight years of his career and you will bring on board a Messi who is different than us. “. I’ve seen him for the last 17 years with Barcelona. He has even said himself that he is getting closer to the dreaded “r” word in retirement than anyone dares to admit.
Messi has scored six goals in 11 appearances this season
“That goes hand in hand with finances because, although he could join for free, his salary is astronomically high: he makes about 100 million euros a year. It would be a huge financial burden for any club to take on, especially considering the fact. that we are in the middle of a global pandemic.
“Economically, everyone has been affected and clubs are not immune to this either. We have seen in the transfer window last summer that clubs are changing their strategies. Some, like Real Madrid, did not even buy one for a player, most are trying to sell, some are trying to bide the time and wait to be able to make bigger transfers in the future, and 100 million euros is a huge stress from a salary bill point of view.
“Either you have to get rid of some of the top earners or you have to sell players or make other adjustments in other parts of the club, depending on the formula that a club wants to use to incorporate Messi.
“Perhaps the clubs would prefer to invest that money in bringing in younger players or in bringing reinforcements in positions where they really need those reinforcements.”
Pep: I want Messi to finish his career at Barcelona
Pep Guardiola has extended his contract with Manchester City for two years
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he wants Lionel Messi to end his Barcelona career because of his strong ties to the Spanish club.
“Leo Messi is a Barcelona player and if you are asking my opinion, I am a person who is very grateful to Barcelona for what they did for me as a player, they gave me absolutely everything, from the beginning, of my time in the academy, “he said.
“So I want him to finish his career there. That’s what I want. As a Barcelona fan, I would like Leo to finish there.
“But this year his contract ends and after that, we don’t know what will happen and what he has in mind.”
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