According to Marca, despite Pep Guardiola's team having just spent £100 million on Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish and their plans to bring in Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane for a similar amount.
Now, with Messi an option, it is suggested that City might turn their attention away from Kane and focus on reuniting former Barca boss Guardiola with Messi.
Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked with Messi and have brought in some big-name signings this summer already with free transfers for Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Georginio Wijnaldum, alongside a €70m deal for Inter full-back Achraf Hakimi, while star striker Kylian Mbappe's contract (which expires in 2022) needs to be extended.
For now, it appears Messi intends on staying at the top level in Europe for a few more years before heading across the Atlantic. But he will have his pick of options, and could yet perform another U-turn to sign his new deal at Barcelona if the club can find a way to work out the finances with LaLiga.
