Premier League giants Manchester City are prepared to make a move in January for Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.
Messi, 33, was in the middle of a hot transfer topic during the off season with his current employers but eventually decided to honour his Barca contract and remain with the club this season.
Fans around the world believe that the Ballon d’Or winner will be expected to leave next summer, leaving long-term favourites City to snap him up in January instead to beat off competition from other clubs.
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The Cityzens could offer cash-strapped Barca a fee of £15million in the winter transfer window.
The Catalan club could consider the option, given that they are presently cash-strapped and could lose their star man for nothing at the end of the season.
Messi has long been reported to be keen on a reunion with City boss Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola once coached Messi at Barcelona, and many attribute the Spanish tactician to be the plug behind the Argentine’s breath-taking career.
In late August, the 33-year-old, who has spent 20 years at the Catalan club, dropped the bombshell news on Barcelona that he intended to leave on a free transfer.
However, Barca refused to recognise the break in his contract, as they claimed the moment for using it had passed in June, and so a stalemate began in which the Argentina international tried to find a way out.
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