Manchester City have denied that they have opened talks with Lionel Messi over a free transfer or have offered the star a deal.
The Barcelona forward is out of contract at the end of the season and tried to leave last summer but stopped short of taking the club he has spent his entire professional career at to court when the board disputed a contractual clause that would have allowed him to leave.
City were aware of Messi's unhappiness and have the resources to afford his wages should he be available on a free in the next transfer window, with the player free now to discuss terms with anyone he wants to.
Barcelona were embarrassed by Bayern Munich in last year's Champions League and face an uphill battle to make it beyond the last-16 in this campaign after a 4-1 humbling at home to PSG this week; facing another deficit in the Spanish cup and nine points off the pace in La Liga, the Catalan giants could end a season without a trophy for the first time in 13 years.
It was reported on Friday that City had offered Messi an eight-year deal which would see him start his spell at the Etihad before taking on ambassadorial roles in the City Football Group. However, a City spokesman insisted that nothing has been put on the table for the 33-year-old despite the player being in the final months of his contract at the Nou Camp.
