According to Marca, Lionel Messi has told Barcelona that he doesn’t want to extend his Barcelona contract at the moment.
According to Spanish publication Marca, Lionel Messi told Barcelona back in July that he didn’t want to sign a contract extension with Barcelona as he wants to keep his options open.
This means that Manchester City may well be on red alert if Messi doesn’t choose to renew his contract as the man commonly known as the world’s best player would be available on a free transfer.
Marca report that “Manchester City are the club that has a greater chance of acquiring his services” due to the appeal of Pep Guardiola on the bench and the project that is unfolding at the Etihad.
As well as the ongoing project at Manchester City, Lionel Messi may be keen to move elsewhere due to the ongoing tax investigation in Spain, during which he was sentenced to 21 months in prison, although he won’t serve that time.
However, it’s important to note that Marca is a Madrid based publication and the story could merely be created to cause discontent within Barcelona.
Man City defender John Stones is such a special talent because he has maturity beyond his years, according to team-mate Willy Caballero .
The 22-year-old has impressed since his £47.5 million move from Everton in the summer and has found a kindred spirit in boss Pep Guardiola .
Known for his love of playing out from the back, Stones has become a key player for both City and England - despite being just 22.
Having witnessed Stones' seamless start first hand, Caballero feels the Three Lions are in safe hands ahead of the visit of Spain on Tuesday.
“He’s different to the normal centre-back in England,” he told mancity.com “They are always big and very good with high balls. John plays really well from the right side, the left side, and his passing always tries to build something.
“He does everything very well. We are really happy with him. I’m pretty sure England have a great centre-back for a long time.
“To play with John, with Nico, with Vincent, with Kola - for me, as a ‘keeper, is wonderful, because they have confidence and they have quality.
“John is so young but he plays as though he has been around for more years. He is growing up now with Pep and hopefully England can have a great centre-back in him.”
Sergio Aguero is in the running to win the prestigious Ballon d'Or award.
The Manchester City striker was the first of five names announced by France Football on Monday morning as part of a 30-man shortlist that will be revealed through the course of the day.
Joining him in contention are Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and Real Madrid pair Cristiano Ronalo and Gareth Bale.
Kevin De Bruyne was part of the second batch of names that featured fellow attackers Paulo Dybala, Antoine Griezmann, and Gonzalo Higuain and also Diego Godin.
Aguero is feeling the heat at City as he attempts to understand and carry out what Pep Guardiola wants from him, and failure to net against Southampton made it three league games without a goal for the first time since December 2015.
Yet that statistic also reveals how consistent he has been this year, and his performances have been recognised.
Having merged in 2010, the Ballon d'Or has now parted ways with the Fifa World Player of the Year prize, meaning there will be two separate awards.
The Arsenal forward is said to be in a contract stand-off at the Emirates, which has put Manchester City and Juventus on alert.
TheMirrorclaim it could spark a £50m battle betweenGuardiolaand Italian champions Juve.City’s manager worked with Sanchez during his time at Barcelona and has remained an admirer.The Chilean’s reputation has grown further since moving to Arsenal and he has been outstanding this season.He will move into the final year of his contract in the summer, with Wenger determined to tie him down to a long-term deal.But Arsenal will not risk losing the 27-year-old for nothing - which is why interested parties will keep a close eye on the negotiations.Guardiola has been critical of City’s failure to kill off opponents this season and has repeatedly demanded more from leading scorer Sergio Aguero.Brazilian international Gabriel Jesus will arrive in January following his summer move from Palmeiras - but Guardiola plans to further overhaul the squad he inherited from Manuel Pellegrini.
Jesus has been dubbed the new Neymaer in BrazilA delegation of representatives forGabriel Jesusis due to fly in next month ahead of the 19-year-old’s move toManchester City.
Among those expected is Giovanni Branchini - the Italian super agent, who has helped guide the careers of some of the game’s finest players, including Cristiano Ronaldo and his Brazilian namesake.
As Europe’s leading clubs targeted the teenage striker, Branchini was mandated to help broker a deal.And despite the interest ofManchester United,Real Madrid and Barcelona, Jesus was convinced to further his career under the guidance ofPep Guardiolaat the Etihad.It is believed that a bigger personal package was on offer from Old Trafford - but the brightest prospect in Brazil was advised to make City his next move as Guardiola embarks on overhauling the squad he inherited from Manuel Pellegrini.
Guardiola has high hopes for Jesus when he arrives in January
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach is eager to manage expectations of a player, who is leaving his homeland for the first time - and will arrive in Manchester along with his mother.
But age and experience aside, City have recruited Brazil’s new No9 - and the weight of history that brings with it.
One of the heroes of his country’s gold medal in Rio, Jesus has been described as the ‘new Neymar’.
Guardiola, himself, is convinced City have signed ‘goals’ - comparing his instinct for finishing to that of Sergio Aguero.
And the anticipation is that Jesus will provide competition for Aguero up front, at a time when the Argentine’s future continues to be the source of intense scrutiny.City’s leading scorer has agreed a one-year extension to his contract - but his status as an ‘untouchable’ has been broken by Guardiola.
The Catalan’s great frustration in his opening months in charge at the Etihad has been what he perceives to be a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal.
Aguero has scored 14 goals in 15 games - but has also missed three penalties.
His failure to convert a gilt-edged chance against Middlesbrough last weekend came back to haunt City as the Premier League newcomers struck late on to earn a draw.
In short, Jesus heads to Manchester with every opportunity to become a pivotal figure for Guardiola in the second half of the campaign.That is likely to have been in the mind of Branchini as the starlet’s future was being mapped out.
What hope of forcing his way into Barca’s star-studded MSN frontline of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar?
Branchini has a rich history of representing some of the biggest names, so it is no surprise his counsel was sought for Jesus.
The feeling at City is that they’ve landed a future superstar.
In establishing himself as Brazil’s No9 in his first two months as a senior international, he is probably ahead of schedule.
But it points to the potential of a player who could have had his pick of Europe’s biggest clubs .
It's the second scare during the international break for Guardiola just days after skipper Vincent Kompany
MANCHESTER CITY could be facing a goalkeeper crisis after Claudio Bravo suffered a knee injury during Chile’s World Cup qualifier against Colombia on Thursday night.
Bravo limped away from a heavy collision in the second half following a clash with Santiago Arias, the City keeper raced off his line to block an effort during the goalless draw in Barranquilla.
Bravo going in feet first in challenge with Colombian defender
The 33-year-old keeper injured himself blocking a run into the box by Arias, Bravo did struggle on for a few minutes after receiving treatment before asking to be replaced.
It’s these times in the football calendar club managers dread as they wave goodbye to their star players and pray they return in one piece, sometimes less than 48 hours before weekend league games.
Bravo down and out in clash with Colombian defender Santiago Arias
City boss Pep Guardiola will now endure an anxious wait to discover the extent of his keepers injury.
Guardiola has put all his faith in the 33-year-old keeper who moved to City from Barcelona in August at the expense of Joe Hart who moved to Torino on loan
Willy Cabellero could be called into action against Crystal Palace
The only other senior keeper available would be 35-year-old Willy Cabellero who hasn’t always convinced between the sticks since his arrival from Malaga in 2014. to Crystal Palace after the international break.
The City boss will need all his experienced players available in order to get back on track in the title race.
"The doctor has said he has at least one month or eight weeks," he said.
Aguero, who has scored 13 times in the league, netted the opener against the Gunners before limping off at the start of the second half.
"I don't know how many weeks but it will be at least one month," added Pellegrini. "It is very difficult to know at this moment how many weeks it can be."
City are also waiting for news of defender Pablo Zabaleta, who limped off after just 12 minutes at the King Power Stadium with a hamstring injury, a week after fellow defender Micah Richards suffered the same problem during the 3-2 win over Bayern Munich.
"It's a pity for Pablo because he felt a little problem in his hamstring and we'll see tomorrow how damaging it is," said Pellegrini.
