Lionel Messi confirms FC Barcelona decision to end Man City hopes of transfer

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.

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

straight to your inboxThere are any number of reasons for to be cautious about a Manchester City deal for Lionel Messi.It remains unclear how many millions of pounds it will cost to sign the Barcelona forward amid a dispute in his contract, and even if they were to sign him there are questions over how it would affect Pep Guardiola and the City squad.

straight to your inboxBarcelona will demand £250m for Lionel Messi and have identified the player they want to replace him, according to the latest reports.Manchester City continue to be linked with Messi, who failed to attend pre-season testing at Barcelona on Sunday as the dispute over his contract continues.

straight to your inboxHere are the Manchester City morning headlines for Sunday, August 30. Barcelona will not accept any Manchester City players in exchange for Lionel Messi, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo .

straight to your inbox Manchester City were given another boost in their pursuit of Lionel Messi after the forward failed to show at the Barcelona training ground for tests ahead of pre-season. Ronald Koeman and the rest of the squad were pictured arriving at the complex on Sunday morning but there was no sign of Messi at his allotted time or for an hour afterwards as the fallout between player and club continues.

straight to your inboxBarcelona are not willing to accept any Manchester City players in exchange for Lionel Messi this summer, according to reports.News broke earlier this week that Messi wants to leave the Spanish giants on the back of their humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich.

straight to your inboxSome Manchester City fans believe Lionel Messi is definitely on his way to the Etihad this summer after Pep Guardiola was spotted in Barcelona on Friday.News broke earlier this week that Messi wants to call time on his Barcelona career following their disappointing end to the season, which saw them lose out to Real Madrid in the La Liga title race and also lose 8-2 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.City are one of the few clubs that could realistically

straight to your inbox A football agent who helped to take Lionel Messi to Barcelona claims it is “90 per cent” sure that the player will stay at the Nou Camp. Manchester City are awaiting the outcome of the player's attempts to extricate himself from the club, which will hit a crucial phase in the next 48 hours.

straight to your inboxManchester City would reportedly be willing to use Eric Garcia and Angelino as make weights in a deal to sign Lionel Messi, if they can't get the Barcelona star on a free.Messi shocked the football world on Tuesday night as it emerged that he had informed Barcelona that he wants to leave the club in the wake of their humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.The six-time Ballon d'Or winner has asked the club's hierarchy to honour a clause in his

straight to your inboxWhen news began to break on Tuesday night that Lionel Messi had told Barcelona he wanted to leave the Nou Camp, Manchester United officials knew what was coming next.United staff were wrapped up in a much more serious drama of their own late on Tuesday, following Harry Maguire's trial in Greece, but sure as night follows day when one of the world's best footballers is on the move the name of Manchester United is never out of the conversation for long.There are far more