Pep Guardiola denies try Messi

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has denied Spanish media reports that he tried to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona last year in a world record deal.

Spanish newspaper, El Mundo had reported that the five times Balon d’or winner was offered a five-year, €250 million net ($285.55m) deal, with City also prepared to pay a €250m release clause.

According to the newspaper, City’s chief executive Ferran Soriano, a former Barcelona general manager, and Messi’s father and agent Jorge discussed a deal at the height of a political crisis in Catalonia over a campaign for independence from Spain.

Guardiola, who myself played and managed Barcelona debunked the report saying he had not tried to sign Messi at any of the clubs he had managed after leaving Spain.

“When I left Barcelona and I went to Bayern Munich and Manchester City I never, never asked Lionel Messi to come to join Bayern Munich or here when I was manager,” he told reporters. I never went to both clubs and said I want this player. Never.

“I know how important is this guy for Barcelona. Myself, I never spoke with the clubs, I never made the first step to say I want this player. Never. I said a thousand times I want him to stay at Barcelona.”

Barca’s all-time top scorer signed a new contract last November, seven months before his old deal expired. It runs until June 2021 and now contains a €700m ($843m) buy-out clause.

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