Etihad Stadium side prepare world record swoop.
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Man City are lining up a simply astonishing £164m bid for Barcelona star Lionel Messi according to the Daily Express.
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Owner Khaldoon Al Mubarak believes the time is right to make a massive offer for the 26 year old, an offer that would smash the world transfer record by some distance.
Though Messi has missed a chunk of the current campaign he has still managed to rack up 40 goals in all competitions this term and is certainly not a player the Nou Camp side would be considering offers for, now matter how large they are.
Barcelona are likely to re-build their squad this summer with veterans Carles Puyol and Victor Valdes set to leave the club and whilst they would require significant funds to conduct such an overhaul they are highly unlikely to be looking to fund such a move by selling their prized asset.
Man City may have a bank balance that leaves them able to make such an offer a move for four time Balon d’Or winner Messi may well be a bridge too far.
Even the presence of national team colleagues Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and Martin Demichelis is unlikely to offer Man City any hope of capturing such a coveted prize.
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