Premier League - City deny making Messi bid

Eurosport - Wed, 20 May 19:24:00 2009

Manchester City have denied making an attempt to sign Barcelona's Argentina star Lionel Messi.

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Reports in Spain claimed City had offered a blockbuster 150 million euro deal to buy out the remainder of the 21-year-old's contract with Barca, and then pay him a further 10 million euros a year to play at Eastlands.

But, a day after City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak insisted the club would not overreach in the transfer market this summer, the club issued a statement denying any such approach had been made.

"Manchester City Football Club note with interest the reports circulating in the Spanish media that the club has made an offer to the Barcelona player Lionel Messi and that he has turned down the chance to join the club," the statement said.

"While acknowledging that Lionel Messi is a world-class player of the highest calibre, Manchester City would like to make it clear that the club has at no time made an approach to Mr Messi or his representatives."

Earlier this month, City manager Mark Hughes hit out at the number of reports linking the club with players around the world since the Abu Dhabi United Group completed their takeover of the club last summer.

PA Sport

Comment 42 - 61 of 61

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  1. Im sure some of the stories in the papers are true and­ city are getting knocked back by some players but a lot­ of the stories are complete fabrications not just by­ the press but by agents of average players trying to­ get some free press and therefore bigger payouts for­ themselves and their player. Colin H im sure when egg­ head took over there you were rubbing your hands­ together, now the milks turned sour so have you! Most­ of what you said is true Bellamy is a money grabber but­ dont kid yourself most players of his age would do the­ same! Its a shame you cant express yourself with out­ bile spouting out of your mouth.

    From shipscat_meow, on Sat 23 May 11:05AM

  2. it's up 2 City..you got the rights.........you got­ the money........just buying stars but take care of the­ team chemistry....

    From Zul Khairi Zahari, on Thu 21 May 12:02PM

  3. one think i want 2 ask............what's the matter­ of City............just take him because without him no­ way Barcelona can be the finalist of the Champions­ League..........if you got him....no need 2 worry about­ ronaldo.........gerrard......walcott........they will­ suffer when trying to chase Messi.........

    From Zul Khairi Zahari, on Thu 21 May 11:58AM

  4. funny how everytime man city go in for these kind of­ players and get laughed at, they deny it ever­ happened....

    From Matty, on Thu 21 May 8:06AM

  5. Dream on

    From Had Enough, on Thu 21 May 8:00AM

  6. with hughes in charge only those coming to tke end of­ their playing days will come to play john

    From ROGERSON, on Thu 21 May 6:46AM

  7. Man City has the money. Especially when other clubs are­ struggling in this economy. But the problem is it­ doesnt have the reputation. Most good players are not­ going to join a team with Man City's record. It­ will take time to build themselves up before world­ class players would even look at the club. Over time,­ the club might be able to climb up the EPL ranking and­ attrack good players. Hopefully, the owner has patient­ and is in it for the long run.

    From elson l, on Thu 21 May 6:27AM

  8. Guys, I think mancity r the team 2 watch out in this­ summers transfer window. They hv da money 2 splurge­ like anything , n hv already made their intentions­ really clear that they want 2 win da UCL.... But the­ problem they will face is that the big name players­ might not want 2 come 2 mancity as its not that good a­ club... The likes of kaka , eto'o , messi, etc, ­ will definitely not wanna come 2 a club that's­ finished 10th!! Not every1 is like robinho !!
    GLORY­ UNITED!! RESPECT & SALUTE THE CHAMPIONS!!

    From dhruvrastogi_rooney, on Thu 21 May 12:01AM

  9. man city have the money but it doesn't make them a­ strong contender, look at chelsea, the money they have­ spend and yet lack success!!! it's all rumours at­ the moment

    From helenbartley310, on Wed 20 May 11:16PM

  10. man city havent thought this though.
    they most good­ players play for a club they like and are happy to stay­ there and dont care how much they earn.
    they have 1 of­ the most paying jobs properly in sport.
    and when and if­ city get more players mark hughes will get sacked to­ make room for a better manager.

    From paulrobins83, on Wed 20 May 11:08PM

  11. hahahahahahahahahahahahaahaha

    From LES, on Wed 20 May 10:53PM

  12. Patterson fu ck off you scots @#$%

    From Colin H, on Wed 20 May 9:50PM

  13. LOL City hes never leaving Barcelona and hes stated­ this already...

    From carlos c, on Wed 20 May 8:38PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I AM SAD NOW DONT RUIN MY DAY MY PAPAS DEAD ITS TRUE I­ KNOW WERE YOU LIVE ILL SEARCH ON THE INTERNET DUH? DONT­ THUMB DOWN ME OR ILL KILL YOU.

    From patterson887, on Wed 20 May 8:16PM

  15. MAN CITY SHOULD NEVER DO THAT AGAIN BECAUSE THEY ARE­ WASTING THEIR MONEY BE SENSIBLE EH? I AM JIM PATERSON­ THE MOTHERWELL MIDFIELDER I NO WERE YOU LIVE MOBILECLAY­ AND COLIN H.

    From patterson887, on Wed 20 May 8:08PM

  16. ROBINHO COW BELLS THROUGH MANSHITSTER SHITTERPOOL AND­ THE SHITTS HULL(budens O THE POO) STROKE @#$% ARE @#$%­ @#$% @#$%.

    From patterson887, on Wed 20 May 7:58PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    MY PAPA'S DEAD

    R.I.P
    ­ JOCK HASTIGS A NOBLE MAN

    From patterson887, on Wed 20 May 7:50PM

  18. COMMENT 33 HENRY STREET2 IS SHITT

    From patterson887, on Wed 20 May 7:47PM

  19. Mobileclay, yeah i had a similar opinion about­ manshitty until the dough rolled in. I actually rated­ Hughes till then also, talk about a fu cking big head­ now, he is like Alexarse Funguscide but won and will­ not win fu ck all. Tw ats the lot of them.

    From Colin H, on Wed 20 May 7:46PM

  20. GET A RENTENDAE DEES FOR £66.99

    From patterson887, on Wed 20 May 7:44PM
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