Citizens are still keen on signing the wantaway Barcelona star.
Manchester City are reportedly preparing a fresh bid worth £15m in January to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona. The attempt is seen as a pre-emptive one to edge out all the competitors in the race for the Argentine ace. Messi had earlier caused a commotion following his decision to leave his long-time club Barcelona.
Messi wanted the current board of Barca to facilitate his transfer through a clause in his contract – which allows him to leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the very season – however, the Blaugrana hierarchy stated the said clause has expired. After finding it immoral to sue his club, he decided to stay put in the end.
Before the reversal of the decision, Manchester City turned out to be the favourites to land the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, with him being keen on a reunion with Pep Guardiola.
City were left disappointed after what happened at last but are now ready to make their next effort. They want to sign the 33-year-old in the January transfer window before he goes for free next summer.
Earlier, City’s Chief Operating Officer Omar Berrada stated that possibilities are higher for the club to sign Messi.
“Messi is a generational talent, he’s the best player in the world and probably an exception to potential investments that we’d do out of the ordinary but our planning has been done with this current squad and it is being considered with the current opportunities that we have.
“For every single position we have to be prepared because there can be so many things that can happen but at the same time I think we have the financial strength and system ability to make that investment when required.”
It is also added that Messi’s arrival could see the exit of his compatriot, Sergio Aguero, from Etihad, with Inter Milan looking like a possible destination.
Messi has previously vented his frustrations on the current Barca board for the lack of project over the years, and his aggression got doubled up when his close friend Luis Suarez left the club, which the Argentine finds as an improper send-off.
Furthermore, Ronald Koeman has recently stated that he persuaded Messi to stay at the Nou Camp by his new project. However, the Dutch manager’s so-called project has taken an early hit following the draw and defeat against Sevilla and Getafe.
Koeman said,
“He[Lionel Messi] wanted to leave but the club was very clear to him. The buy out clause was so high, that not a single club in the world was going to pay that in these times.”
“I went to his house and took the time to listen to all the things he said. But I also explained to him that I had not been a part of the problems he had with the club and told him how I was going to work to change things.
