Manuel Pellegrini plays down talk of Manchester City signing Lionel Messi
Posted Tuesday, November 25, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk
MANUEL PELLEGRINI has dismissed rumours that Manchester City could attempt to sign Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.
Messi's future at Barca is up in the air despite the his hero status at the Nou Camp.
The 27-year-old scored a hat-trick against Sevilla last weekend to become the all-time leading goalscorer in La Liga history.
Messi has been at Barcelona since he was 13 but uncertainty stems from comments where he admits his future could lie elsewhere.
But City boss Pellegrini said: "The rumours are only rumours.
"What he did was exceptional and there are few players that can reach his level. The record he has got reflects how important he is for Barcelona."
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City are one of few clubs in the world with the finance and status to attempt to lure Messi.
The fact Messi trained at the Premier League champions' facilities with Argentina prior to last week's friendly with Portugal at Old Trafford also added fuel to speculation linking him to the club.
Messi's international team-mate Martin Demichelis also downplayed reports linking the club with the Barcelona ace.
Demichelis said: "I am happy for his record. For me it is not a surprise any more, what he is doing.
"I don't think I should give an opinion about the rumours before such an important game."
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