We 'signed' Lionel Messi for Man City in January and this is what happened

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola is in 'constant contact' with Lionel Messi ahead of a potential transfer in 2021, according to reports.Messi shocked the world last summer when he declared his desire to leave Barcelona and City were immediately installed as the favourites to sign him.However, after two weeks of wild speculation, Messi announced he would stay in Catalonia to avoid a legal battle with the club over a clause in his contract.The Argentine's relationship with the hierarchy at the

straight to your inboxBarcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta is confident Lionel Messi will remain at the club beyond next summer despite interest from Manchester City.Messi dropped a bombshell in the summer by revealing he was seriously unhappy at the club, submitting a transfer request in the hope the club would allow him to leave for nothing.Barcelona insisted the release clause that would see Messi depart on a free had expired and the Argentine opted against fighting his current

straight to your inboxRonald Koeman has responded to continued speculation surrounding the future of Barcelona star Lionel Messi.Messi has been linked with a move away from the Nou Camp, with Manchester City touted as a possible destination for the six-time Ballon d'Or winner.

straight to your inboxLionel Messi praised the impact Pep Guardiola has had on his career, as the Barcelona star continues to be linked with a summer exit from the Nou Camp.Messi wanted to leave Barca last summer, but opted to stay when it became clear he would have to go through the courts with the club to get his way.

straight to your inboxWith Sergio Aguero becoming less influential and Gabriel Jesus struggling for goals, Manchester City could be in the market for a new striker, either in January or in the summer.That's according to a report from 90min, which suggests that City are keen to keep Aguero, but are planning to lessen their reliance on him and have made a new striker their top priority next summer as they prepare to transition away from the Argentine.The report goes on to suggest that City are

straight to your inboxManchester City's 2020 hasn't quite gone to plan after they conceded the Premier League title to Liverpool and did not venture as far in the Champions League as they would have liked.While this term has begun with City navigating their way through the group stages once again, Pep Guardiola's side are already adrift of Liverpool in the hunt for the title.A major move in the summer to the future saw Guardiola put pen to a new deal at the Etihad Stadium and significant

straight to your inboxManchester City have a 'genuine' belief that Lionel Messi will leave Barcelona this summer, reports say.City are in a position to sign Messi if he becomes available, with the Argentine able to leave Barcelona at the end of the season. He wanted to leave this year, but decided to stay for another season to avoid a lengthy legal battle.Since then, Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu has stood down, with elections taking place in January to choose a replacement.