Shocking: Ex-Barcelona president claims Messi to join EPL giants
Jul 26, 2016 at 11:08 AM
Manchester City believe they are in pole position to sign Lionel Messi, but only if the Argentine in future decides to leave Barcelona.
Not only City, Arsenal and Chelsea also were outrageously linked with the Argentine superstar in the winter transfer window.
But Manchester City’s interest has received major boost as former Blaugrana president Joan Laporta claimed that there is a conspiracy at the Nou Camp to get rid of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“There are certain powers who want Messi to no longer be a Barca player,’ Laporta told Catalunya Radio.
He claimed Barca had shown a lack of support for the player when he was in court on tax evasion charges, resulting in a suspended prison sentence and a £1.4million fine.
“The club has let the player down, the best player in history, the best player in the world. We have a president and a board that didn’t accompany him when he had to testify in court.”
According to the Manchester Evening News, Citizens are still doubtful that the 29-year-old will ever leave the Catalan outfit, but believe that his relationship with manager Pep Guardiola could see him arrive at the Etihad if he did.
Messi is also friends with Sky Blues chief executive Ferran Soriano and director Txiki Begiristain, who used to work for Barcelona before moving to the Premier League side.
Messi is believed to have agreed a new five-year deal with Barcelona earlier this month, but no further announcement has yet been made and his current deal expires in the summer of 2018.
The five-time FIFA world footballer of the year flew to England on Sunday, but only as part of the Barca squad which has a training camp at the FA’s St George’s Park.