Lionel Messi: a summer move to
City?
City owner Sulaiman Al Fahim, who six weeks ago missed
out on Kaka, has personally sanctioned the world-record bid for the
Barcelona striker.
Brazilian superstar Kaka turned down a £91m switch to
Eastlands to stay at AC Milan. But Arab billionaire Al Fahim, who
is a huge fan of Argentinian football, is determined not to lose
out again and has made Messi his No 1 target.
Al Fahim said: “I’ve never worked with Maradona and I
am not sure if he will be a good coach for Argentina. “But I want
to work with Messi soon, because he makes me love Argentina
again.”
Messi, 21, has been inspirational for Barca this
season, scoring 17 La Liga goals in 22 appearances to help them to
the top of the table.
The Spanish giants are desperate to keep him. But money
is no object for Al Fahim and the City chief is convinced he can
use his financial muscle to persuade Messi to leave.
City were ready to offer Kaka £250,000 a
WEEK to leave the San Siro and he came agonisingly
close to joining before a late change of heart.
The major stumbling block in that deal was that City
could not guarantee Champions League action every year. But Messi
has time on his side and the playmaker should be impressed with the
quality of signings boss Mark Hughes has since made.
Hughes has bought striker Robinho and splashed out more
than £50m in the January transfer window to land keeper Shay Given,
full-back Wayne Bridge, midfielder Nigel De Jong and forward Craig
Bellamy.
