Man City Deny Reports That They Offered Messi £1million/Week Offer

Premier League champions Manchester City have rubbished claims they made a failed bid to sign Barcelona legend Lionel Messi.

Messi has been linked with City several times since former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola was appointed manager of the Premier League club in 2016.

City chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak was quoted in Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo as saying he once made a lucrative offer for Messi, which would reportedly have paid him more than £1 million per week.

“We asked Guardiola to talk to him, we offered him triple the salary he has at Barcelona, but he never accepted,” Mubarak was quoted as saying.

City however responded by insisting there was no truth to the report.

“We deny the veracity of these quotes,” a City spokesman said.

Argentina talisman Messi played under Guardiola for four seasons at Barca, during which time they won 14 titles.

The 31-year-old signed a new contract with Barca in November 2017, and is now the highest earning footballer on the planet.

He’s begun the season in his usual sparkling form, scoring 11 goals in 11 games so far for the Blaugrana.