IN SPORT.ES
Lionel Messi's future is still one of football's great unknowns at the moment with the Barcelona star free to negotiate with other clubs in January ahead of the expiry of his contract next summer.
One of the scenarios on the table is that he leaves Barca for Manchester City. The Premier League side were keen on signing him in the summer when he wanted to quit Camp Nou.
But reports in England say City have ruled out a move for Messi. That's according to the journalist Semra Hunter on Sky Sports.
"I know from people close to the operation that City aren't going to push for Messi," she said. "According to the information I have, right now that door is closed."
On the reasons why, Hunter added: "City have two motives for this: Messi's age and the financial cost. Even on a free transfer, his salary is astronomical. He earns 100 million euros a year. It would be a huge financial load for any club. Above all when you consider we are in the middle of a global pandemic."