Liverpool defender Andy Robertson says he doesn’t want Lionel Messi ‘anywhere near the Premier League amid speculation linking the Barcelona star to Manchester City.
Messi informed the club last week that he wished to leave this summer, following a disastrous season which ended with an 8-2 hammering at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals.
Messi’s camp claimed the Argentine is able to leave on a free because of a clause in his contract that gives him the option to do so at the end of each season. However, Barcelona insists that clause expired in June and that the only way to sign Messi would be by paying his €700million release clause, a stance backed by LaLiga.
The latest reports in Argentina suggest a U-turn is on the cards, but if Messi were to leave then a reunion with Pep Guardiola at the Etihad would seem his most likely destination.
City are likely to be Liverpool’s main rivals as they look to defend their Premier League title and Robertson would rather they were not strengthened by the arrival of the six-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“I think Liverpool have ruled out that we could sign him so I don’t want him anywhere near the Premier League and hopefully it stays that way,” Robertson said. “I’ve played against him twice and it’s the hardest games I’ve ever played.”
