Here are the Manchester City morning headlines for Sunday, August 30.
Barcelona “not interested in player swaps for Messi”
Barcelona will not accept any Manchester City players in exchange for Lionel Messi, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo .
Reports have suggested that City could offer defenders Eric Garcia and Angelino as part of any deal to bring the superstar to the Etihad Stadium, but Barcelona are unwilling to accept any swap deals.
Mundo Deportivo also suggests that Barcelona are not interested in offering a price reduction on Messi and they are adamant he will not leave for free.
The Argentine believes the clause that allows him to leave for free is still valid, with Barcelona arguing that it expired in June.
City target Koulibaly dropped to Napoli second side
City target Kalidou Koulibaly played in a reserve team for Napoli last night.
That is seen in Naples as a hint that the Serie A club are planning for life without the Senegal international centre-back in the season ahead.
City are relaxed about the potential signing, as they wait for Napoli to drop their transfer fee demands.
Napoli are believed to have dropped their asking price for Koulibaly from £80million to around £65m, but City are ready to wait for their valuation to be reached.
“Barcelona giving Messi a kick up the backside” – Stoichkov
Barcelona great Hristo Stoichkov has hit out at the Spanish club’s board over their treatment of Messi.
The Argentina star handed in a transfer request on Tuesday amid growing frustration with the presidency of Josep Maria Bartomeu and disillusionment with the lack of progress on the field.
City head the queue of clubs ready to take Mess, but there is a public relations battle being played out in Barcelona, with the club keen to portray him as betraying the club.
Stoichkov said : “We’re erasing the myth, we’re giving the best player in Barcelona’s history a kick up the backside.
“We’re staining his name, his charisma. I’m a member, so that’s why I’m saying we’re staining it.
“The board has ruined everything.
“It seems as though they want to pit the fans against the players.”
