City deny €150m Messi swoop

MANCHESTER CITY have denied making an attempt to sign Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

Reports in Spain yesterday claimed City had offered a blockbuster €150m deal to buy out the remainder of the 21-year-old’s contract and then pay him a further €10m a year to play at Eastlands.

But, a day after City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak insisted the club would not overreach in the transfer market this summer, the club issued a statement denying any such approach had been made.

“Manchester City note with interest the reports circulating in the Spanish media that the club has made an offer to Lionel Messi and that he has turned down the chance to join the club,” the statement said.

“While acknowledging that Lionel Messi is a world-class player of the highest calibre, Man City would like to make it clear that the club has at no time made an approach.”