Arturo Vidal explains why teammate Lionel Messi is struggling at Barcelona

straight to your inboxLionel Messi has confirmed that he will stay at FC Barcelona for another year, ten days after handing in a transfer request to spark an almighty transfer scramble.After two days of talks between the club and Jorge Messi, his father and agent, and a cutting statement fired in La Liga chief Javier Tebas's direction arguing publicly that the player's €700m release is no longer valid, the decision has been made for 33-year-old Messi to remain at the Nou Camp when he realised he

straight to your inboxHere are the latest Manchester City evening headlines for Thursday, September 3. Lionel Messi could still remain at Barcelona according to his father.

straight to your inbox Sergio Ramos has urged Lionel Messi to stay at Barcelona for the sake of Spanish football. The six-time Ballon d'Or winner has asked to leave the La Liga giants this summer.Manchester City are the bookmakers' favourites to sign Messi, although it remains unclear what fee any potential suitors would have to pay for the Argentine superstar.

straight to your inboxLionel Messi could remain at Barcelona for another season, his father has admitted, after holding talks with the club to attempt to resolve his contract dispute. Jorge Messi, who is his son's agent, yesterday told reporters that it would be 'difficult' for Lionel to remain at Barcelona, saying he had not spoken to Manchester City or Pep Guardiola about a potential move.

straight to your inboxFrenkie de Jong has revealed that Lionel Messi remains in the Barcelona players' WhatsApp group despite the Argentinian handing in a transfer request and missing the first days of pre-season training.Messi believes he has activated a clause in his contract allowing him to leave for free and that he is no longer a Barcelona player. The club say that clause had expired, and the only way he can leave is if a club activated his £630m release clause.

straight to your inboxFor a week, there hasn't been a lot Manchester City have been able to say or do about Lionel Messi.His transfer request last Tuesday kickstarted a global circus with all roads pointing towards the Etihad, but their position hasn't significantly changed from all the other times they have been linked with him: of course they will sign him if it is possible, but they are still not certain that it is.Even if the encouragement from the events of the last week has been enough to

straight to your inboxManchester City's pursuit of Lionel Messi is not expected to stop them from buying another centre-back but the Barcelona saga could have a knock-on effect for other plans.Txiki Begiristain was busy early in the transfer window, securing winger Ferran Torres and defender Nathan Ake to strengthen the squad for next season.The priority for this summer was a long-term partner for Aymeric Laporte at centre-back, with Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly identified as a target.

straight to your inboxThe president of Argentina, Alberto Fernandez, has urged Lionel Messi to reject a potential move to Manchester City in favour of joining Newell's Old Boys.Messi failed to report for coronavirus testing at Barcelona's training complex yesterday as he continues his battle to leave the club.The Argentine’s decision not to attend means he will be unable to participate in Ronald Koeman's first training session today.Messi has told the Barcelona hierarchy last week that he wants

Stuttgart fans have rallied around the club in a rather hopeful attempt to sign Barcelona legend Lionel Messi.The Argentine’s time at the Camp Nou could be up, with Messi believing he is out of contract and therefore eligible to leave for nothing.La Liga have however ruled in favour of Barca meaning his eye-watering €700m, release clause still stands.Stuttgart, who finished third from bottom in the Bundesliga last season surviving via the play-offs, might be a slightly unlikely destination for

straight to your inbox Barcelona presidential candidate Toni Freixa expects Lionel Messi to join Manchester City in a move that he thinks could be liberating for the Catalan club. Messi is currently involved in a standoff with the club he has played at for his entire career, with the 33-year-old having failed to show up for pre-season as he attempts to leave the Nou Camp.