Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says Lionel Messi should finish career at Barcelona; Guardiola signed new two-year contract at City this week; Messi was heavily linked with Barcelona exit in summer; City play Tottenham at 5.30pm on Saturday
Friday 20 November 2020 14:54, UK
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he wants to see Lionel Messi finish his career at Barcelona because of his own strong bond with the Spanish club.
There was widespread speculation this week that, after signing a new two-year contract at City, Guardiola would step up his pursuit of Messi, who seemed certain to leave the Nou Camp in the summer after a public falling-out with the club.
Guardiola, however, says his own hope is for the legendary Argentina forward to complete his career in Spain rather than make what would be a world-record transfer to the Premier League or elsewhere.
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"Leo Messi is a player for Barcelona and if you're asking me for my opinion, I am a person who has a huge gratitude to Barcelona for what they did for me as a player, they gave me absolutely everything, from the start, from my time in the academy," he said.
"So I want him to finish his career there. That is what I want. As a Barcelona fan, I would like for Leo to finish there.
"But this year he finishes his contract and after that, we don't know what will happen and what is in his mind.
"Right now he is a Barcelona player and the transfer market will not open until June or July, so we have our own games and achievements before then. I cannot say anything else."
Guardiola's next game with City is a Saturday evening trip to play Tottenham, a side who go into the weekend fixtures second in the Premier League and just a point behind Leicester City.
When asked what he thought of Jose Mourinho's performance as Spurs manager so far, Guardiola said: "Really good, as he has always done in all of his clubs."
He was more expansive, however, when asked about Tottenham's chances of winning a first Premier League title this season, saying: "Their form speaks for itself and of course they are (title) contenders. The quality has always been there, they have qualified for the Champions League for five years.
"It's a fantastic squad."
Kevin De Bruyne says he wants to stay at Manchester City after revealing he is in talks with the club over a new contract.
The 29-year-old confirmed the news after helping Belgium to a 2-0 win over England in the Nations League on Sunday night.
Speaking to Belgian TV station VTM Nieuws, De Bruyne said: "I am at a good club [with] good owners.
"We are a bit in talks - not advanced. At the moment, I am doing the talks myself.
"I would like to stay with the club, so it's easy. If I didn't want to stay, it would take someone to mediate. But when you want to stay, it's not so difficult."
Alan Smith joins Peter Smith on this week's Pitch to Post Preview Podcast to discuss Pep Guardiola's new Man City contract, Tottenham's title hopes and what's going wrong at Arsenal.
Plus, Sky Sports News reporter Vinny O'Connor has the latest on Liverpool's growing injury list ahead of their clash with Leicester, and his colleague Mark McAdam lifts the lid on Southampton's strong start to the season.
And Sky Sports football journalist Ron Walker talks Leicester and West Ham, and makes his Pitch for what will happen in the Premier League this weekend.
Listen to the Sky Sports Pitch to Post Podcast on: Spotify | Apple | Castbox
