FC Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi reportedly wants to join Manchester City, and has already called Pep Guardiola to make a special request.
According to various journalists, the Argentine's idea is to move to the Citizens, who are said to have €300 million (R5.9 billion) available for the mega transfer.
South American journalist Marcelo Bechler, who is credited with having broken the news that Messi wants to leave the Blaugrana, claims the Argentina superstar has decided to head to the Premier League.
He posted the following on his official Twitter account, along with a video detailing the story.
"Messi wants to play for Manchester City. Treat the departure of Barcelona as something that hurts the soul, but the end of a cycle."
Onda Cero has suggested that Messi has already spoken to Citizens boss Pep Guardiola over the phone, while Gerard Romero has claimed that the Manchester club is prepared to offer the six-time Ballon d'Or winner a two-year deal at the same salary he receives at Barcelona.
Messi, though, is believed to have insisted that Guardiola extend his contract, which is currently set to expire in 2021, at the Citizens otherwise he will not join.
The Spanish tactician managed the forward during a hugely successful spell together at Barca, and is said to believe the Albiceleste talisman will be the icing on the cake in his Citizens project.
Make sure you stay updated with all of the news surrounding Messi's potential departure from the Camp Nou in our LIVE Messi Transfer Update.
