Lionel Messi has reportedly spoken to Pep Guardiola amid growing speculation the Barcelona superstar could make a stunning switch to the Etihad.
Messi has told the Catalan giants he wants out of the Nou Camp after scoring 634 goals in 731 appearances for the club.
Barca were humbled 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League which was seemingly the straw that broke the camel's back for the Argentine, despite the subsequent dismissal of manager Quique Setien and arrival of Ronald Koeman.
Messi and Guardiola enjoyed a trophy-laden spell together with the Blaugrana and have spoken on the telephone ahead of a potential reunion at City, according to The Sun.
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Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich have tentatively ruled themselves out of the running for Messi, such are his astronomical wages.
Any club signing him would need to be mindful of FFP, and any deal City do strike may well see players leave in the other direction.
The Blues appear to be in pole position to seal a deal, with Inter Milan also linked with a swoop for Messi.
City's owners are desperate to add the Champions League to their trophy cabinet having so-far failed to even reach the final of Europe's premier club competition.
And Messi could be the final piece of the jigsaw as City bid to rubber-stamp themselves among the world's elite.
The 33-year-old has spent nearly two decades at Barca and his desire to leave would reportedly not change, even if under-fire president Josep Maria Bartomeu stepped aside.
