Mbabane: After shock reports suggesting that Lionel Messi could leave FC Barcelona in 2021 and with the Argentine being linked with a transfer to Manchester City, Pep Guardiola has broken his silence on the rumours.
The Spaniard is expected to enter the market in the transfer window after losing the Premier League title to Liverpool this season. It has been claimed that Guardiola could be keen on a reunion with Messi, with the FC Barcelona captain said to be fed up at the Camp Nou and considering leaving the Blaugrana as a result.
The City boss, though, was reluctant to be drawn into speculation about a potential reunion with his former portage. “I’m not going to speak about transfers until the end of the season,” he said when asked about Messi, as quoted by Goal. “My wish is that Messi is going to stay in Barcelona.” City are reportedly also keen on a new centre-back, with Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly being closely linked with the club, but Guardiola offered a similarly diplomatic response when asked about defensive reinforcements. “At the end of the season. We still have incredible targets to fight for (in 2020/21),” he added.
City are still in the FA Cup, where they will face Arsenal in the semi-final, as well as the UEFA Champions League. They will host Real Madrid at home for the second leg of their round of 16 tie when Europe’s elite club competition resumes in August, after winning the first leg in Spain 2-1.
Souced from soccerladuma.com
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