Brazil legend Ronaldo says Barcelona should stand firm over Lionel Messi.
Messi told Barcelona he wants to leave the club earlier this week after a disastrous end to the season which saw them surrender the La Liga title to Real Madrid and concede eight goals to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.
However, Ronaldo has told Barcelona that they shouldn't entertain any talk of a move.
"It’s very unlikely that he’ll be able to leave Barcelona at the moment, especially when there’s a crisis of results," Ronaldo said at a webinar hosted by Santander. "Messi is a reference for the team and, if I were Barcelona, I wouldn’t let him leave in any situation.
"He has a great and strong relationship with the club and I don’t think he’ll stop being in love with the team."
City have always believed they would be at the front of the queue to sign Messi were he ever to leave Barcelona and it appears he is now closer to the exit door than ever.
However, City are remaining calm over the situation. The Blues would never dismiss the opportunity to bring Messi to the Etihad, and look to have their best shot yet of persuading him. But they have been in enough similar positions before, and see enough significant obstacles still in front of them, to mean that they proceed with caution.
