Barcelona candidate Joan Laporta outlines Lionel Messi plan and makes Pep Guardiola admission

straight to your inboxOne of the frontrunners to become Barcelona's new president says he cannot imagine Lionel Messi playing for Manchester City.Messi came close to leaving Barcelona in the summer after falling out with the club's hierarchy, who have since all resigned, prompting a new presidential election in January. Messi opted to stay at the Nou Camp to avoid a costly legal battle to end his contract, with City his most likely destination.

straight to your inboxPablo Zabaleta has urged Lionel Messi to sign for Manchester City next summer.Messi has spent his entire senior career at Barcelona but is now being tipped for a move away from the Nou Camp.City have been linked with the 33-year-old Argentina superstar, who is in the final year of his current contract.Messi has previously played under Pep Guardiola at Barcelona - and his former international team-mate Zabaleta would love to see the pair reunited in Manchester."Manchester

straight to your inboxLionel Messi has not held talks with any potential suitors about a transfer despite speculation over his future at Barcelona, according to reports.Manchester City have been heavily linked with a move for the Argentinian star, who is unhappy at the Nou Camp and tried to leave last summer. Messi's current deal expires in the summer, meaning he can speak to other clubs about a pre-contract agreement from January 1.

straight to your inboxManchester City target Lionel Messi wants to stay at Barcelona, according to presidential candidate Jordi Farre.Messi’s current contract is set to expire next summer, meaning he will be able to talk to other clubs about a free transfer away from Barca in January. The 33-year-old has been strongly linked with a move to City, where he would be reunited with former Barca boss Pep Guardiola.

straight to your inboxMan City have been handed a potential blow in their pursuit of Lionel Messi.With the legendary forward out of contract at Barcelona at the end of the season, City have been strongly linked with a potential move for him on a free transfer.City had tried to launch a bid to reunite Messi with manager Pep Guardiola over the summer when the Argentine handed in a transfer request at Barca, only for him to eventually stay at Barca.With Barca currently holding presidential

straight to your inboxJoan Laporta has insisted Lionel Messi wants to stay at Barcelona, despite the president of the club's management committee admitting the Argentine should have been sold in the summer.Laporta is running to become Barca president again, having previously held the position between 2003 and 2010, appointing Pep Guardiola as manager and overseeing Messi's rise to become one of the greatest players of all time in one of the most successful periods of the club's history.With

straight to your inboxHere are the Manchester City evening headlines for Sunday, November 29. Gerard Pique has urged Manchester City transfer target Lionel Messi not to walk out of Barcelona when his contract expires at the end of the season.