Manchester City are reportedly looking into whether it will be possible to sign Barcelona captain Lionel Messi this summer.
The Barcelona legend has reportedly expressed doubts about his future at the Camp Nou, particularly after the humiliating 8-2 defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final.
And City, managed by Messi's former boss Pep Guardiola, are exploring whether a deal would be possible with regards to Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, according to ESPN, if Barcelona are willing to negotiate a fee lower than Messi's €700million (£631million) release clause.
The report details that some Barcelona board members are open to selling their 33-year-old, if he pushes for a move away this summer.
Barcelona appointed former Southampton, Everton and The Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman as the club's new manager last week, and Koeman discussed Messi's future with the man himself.
Messi has only ever played for Barcelona, but after a disappointing conclusion to the 2019-20 season - after also missing out domestically as they surrendered their La Liga title to fierce rivals Real Madrid - the Argentine is reportedly considering his furure.
His contract at Barcelona runs out next summer, yet Barcelona's official stance is that they would not sell below his staggeringly high release clause figure.
From City's standpoint, a deal would be particularly tricky in light of the coronavirus crisis and their recent financial problems with UEFA and FFP.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned City's two-year European ban last month, an original punishment set by UEFA for violating FFP regulations.
A deal for Messi, with fee and wages included, could break the world record for a transfer, when Neymar moved to PSG from Barcelona in 2017 for £200million.
Yet Messi enjoyed arguably the greatest years of his career at Barcelona under Guardiola from 2008-2012, winning the Champions League twice and La Liga three times.
City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak has insisted more signings are set to occur at the Etihad during this window.
"We'll sensible and pragmatic about it but we will do what it takes, I think you've seen when it comes to the two acquisitions we have made, [Nathan] Ake and Ferran Torres, we moved quickly," he said.
"There are additional players we will be bringing in and we stick to the plan, obviously within the realities of the market that we live in today."
While according to Argentine media Ole, Lionel Messi will announce his decision, which he has already taken, in next few hours regarding his future.
#CITYZENS
Saif
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