Manchester City are in talks
with Barcelona about a first
refusal option on Lionel
Messi.
The People says Mark Hughes was ready to pay
£100million for the Argentinian, but was told he did not want to
make the switch.
City were unwilling to be publicly turned down again by one of
the world's top players so they have asked his father and agent
Jorge, as well as Barcelona, for an agreement which would see them
have the first option to sign Messi if he ever wanted to leave.
Messi has no desire to leave Barca at the moment, having been at
the Nou Camp since he was a boy, but City are prepared to wait in
the hope of signing one of the biggest talents.
Even though Hughes has spent more than £100m this summer on
several big names, he is still unable to capture the world
superstar he has been craving.