Manchester City

Manchester City are reportedly weighing a hybrid contract offer to Barcelona's Lionel Messi that would include three years at the Etihad Stadium followed by a move to MLS' New York City FC. 

ESPN's Rodrigo Faez and Moises Llorens reported Wednesday that City have emerged as the favourites to sign Messi, though details remain unclear as the superstar forward attempts to secure a free transfer based on disputed contract language about what stipulates the end of the season amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Manchester City own NYCFC, and the move to the United States at the end of the contract, which would likely also mark the final years of the Argentinian superstar's career, would be part of his role as an ambassador for the City Football Group, per ESPN.

Along with the Sky Blues, the 33-year-old six-time Ballon d'Or winner has also been linked to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan.

Realistically, there are only a select number of clubs that could afford the lucrative long-term contract Messi will command, and the amount of teams would be further reduced if Barcelona are successful in arguing the free transfer clause doesn't apply and demand a sky-high transfer fee.

Barca also aren't giving up hope that Messi might change his mind about an offseason move, as sporting director Ramon Planes discussed earlier Wednesday, per ESPN.

"As we have said many times, we're still thinking of Messi as a Barca player," Planes said. "Barca have rebuilt themselves many times throughout history and have always bounced back stronger. Our idea is to rebuild around the best player in the world."

The multifaceted offer from Manchester City could be the best of both worlds for Messi. He could spend a few more years at the highest level of European football trying to bring a UEFA Champions League title to City before spending the twilight of his career helping grow the sport in the U.S.

Of course, there would likely be an additional clause that would allow him to remain with the Citizens if he's still among the world's best forwards in three years' time, and the club believes he could still be a major asset in pursuit of trophies at the Etihad since the club owns both sides.

There will probably be several more twists and turns in the story before Messi's future is finalized before the transfer window closes.

While several steps are necessary to make a partnership a reality, Manchester City are performing their due diligence surrounding a possible pursuit of Barcelona star Lionel Messi, according to ESPN's Moises Llorens and Rodrigo Faez.

Llorens and Faez reported City "are crunching the numbers" to determine whether they could realistically sign Messi while staying within UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules.

Some wondered whether FFP-related guidelines would actually have any teeth going forward after City successfully appealed their two-year European ban in front of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

However, the ESPN report referenced that ruling and said "City's finances are under the microscope more than ever" as a result. The club's hierarchy may shy away from spending lavishly on a star such as Messi, lest they face another battle with UEFA.

Barcelona's need for rejuvenation became abundantly clear following their 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

The Athletic's Dermot Corrigan reported earlier this month that Barca would probably consider selling almost anybody on their roster, but finding any takers could prove difficult. The club has the highest wage bill of any sports franchise in the world with an average salary of nearly $12.3 million.

Unless Barcelona can offload some of their most expensive veteran players, the scope of their incoming transfers will be limited.

Selling Messi would alleviate Barca's financial burden, but even that will be tricky. He has a €700 million release clause. Assuming the final number would be lower, a likely nine-figure transfer fee—on top of his wages—for a 33-year-old is a costly pursuit, especially as clubs are seeing significantly less revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Manchester City are one of the few suitors who could feasibly sign Messi. They consistently contend for the Premier League title and have become regulars in the knockout rounds of the Champions League. The six-time Ballon d'Or winner would presumably enjoy reuniting with former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola as well.

Still, it's hard to see how City—or any other club—can make the numbers work to the point where adding Messi is anything more than a pipe dream.

Manchester City enjoyed their best win of the season on Monday when they successfully overturned a two-year ban from European club competitions.

The club was cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) of "disguising equity funds as sponsorship contributions" and additionally had a €30 million fine reduced to €10 million.

Suddenly, there is a clearer picture of how City move forward. After being beaten to the Premier League title by Liverpool this season, we can expect a rebuild at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola is expected to continue as manager into the final year of his current contract and breathe fresh life into the squad. 

A defensive overhaul is going to be at the centre of City's summer plans, while two extra additions elsewhere are being considered to add a new depth to the team.

Sources insist that their recruitment plan has not particularly changed in light of the CAS announcement. It just means they now have a better chance of landing top targets.

City will be one of Europe's highest spenders, so what should we expect?

BREAKING: Manchester City’s two-year European ban has been lifted, and their fine reduced to €10M, by the Court of Arbitration for Sport pic.twitter.com/5jdT5RDKrr

— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 13, 2020

The centre of defence is a priority as City set about repairing their squad, and B/R sources are indicating that two players could be signed in the problem area.

Aymeric Laporte is considered one of the team's most important players, but he needs more reliable options alongside him than the likes of John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi, who could both move on.

Kalidou Koulibaly, 29, is a genuine target, while Inter Milan's Milan Skriniar will be an option if the Napoli man is not attainable.

City do not have good memories of dealing with Napoli after agreeing a deal for Jorginho and then having him snatched away by Chelsea, and there is concern over how negotiations will go this time. However, they have begun to test the water by using intermediaries to check on Koulibaly's mindset and ambition before starting formal talks.  

City want a top-level, proven defender to join and will pay significant sums to land one, but they are also seeking a versatile, and cheaper, option. Nathan Ake of Bournemouth is on the radar, but Villarreal's 23-year-old left-footed centre-back Pau Torres is in their thoughts too. 

If City find a buyer for Benjamin Mendy, they will also attempt to buy a new left-back. There have been rumours of David Alaba signing from Bayern Munich, but sources have told B/R that such a transfer is highly unlikely as the player has little desire to move to the Premier League. 

Further up the pitch, City will also look for signings. Guardiola is pretty content with his midfield, where record signing Rodri has grown into his role. Kevin De Bruyne remains the star of the side, and the CAS announcement ensures he will not be leaving any time soon.

They have been scouting Marten De Roon of Atalanta but may also look into signing Douglas Luiz back from Aston Villa. Reports on him this season have been positive, and Guardiola is believed to be open to the idea of a return.

David Silva is expected to leave, but the door is being left open in case he decides he is open to staying one more year, or if his next move is delayed because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the market. 

The big question—and the most exciting one for City fans—is which type of forward to pursue.

Leroy Sane has departed to join Bayern Munich, and insiders have indicated to B/R that the possibility of taking Kingsley Coman in the opposite direction has been explored.

Such a move is looking unlikely at this moment, but City are also being linked with Ferran Torres of Valencia as a player who can make the switch into English football. His style of play is suited to Guardiola's City, and the club could be helped by the fact that Borussia Dortmund—who have been heavily linked with the player—are currently not in a strong financial position to sign him.

The level of forward who arrives at the Etihad this summer will be dependent on how much budget is available. The club have always been careful about outlay on one player—their transfer fee record is £62.8 million, which is less than Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal's biggest outlays. 

Talks with Gabriel Jesus are expected to ensure he remains with the club, and it is with that in mind that club sources consistently play down the chances of a big-name centre-forward arriving to compete with Sergio Aguero.

Lautaro Martinez has been linked, but his fee would be in the region of £100 million. At this stage, it seems unlikely City will go down that path. Additionally, Inter Milan still believe the player will stick with them for next season.

Kai Havertz is one option City might be more tempted by. He's able to play in a variety of roles and is considered as having the potential to be a future Ballon d'Or winner.

Bayer Leverkusen are willing to let him leave this summer if an offer close to £90 million lands on the table. Chelsea are interested but have not moved forward with talks at this stage.  

However, Erling Haaland is the other name to consider. He will not be available this summer, but there is a trail of thought that waiting a year for him, and continuing with Aguero and Jesus for now, would be the best way forward.

City are certain of their place in Europe for the foreseeable future and, as such, will continue to challenge the elite. Now we must wait to see which pieces fall into place ahead of next season.

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The mother of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has died in Barcelona after contracting the coronavirus, the club announced Monday.

Dolors Sala Carrio was 82.

"Everyone associated with the club sends their most heartfelt sympathy at this most distressing time to Pep, his family and all their friends," Manchester City said.

Guardiola donated €1 million to the Medical College of Barcelona in March to aid in the country's relief effort.

He also posted a video message instructing City supporters to remain at home to limit the spread of COVID-19:

"WE'LL COME BACK FROM THIS STRONGER..." 💪
⁣#CityzensAtHome is here to bring you regularly updated news, advice and a wide range of fun and educational activities, centred on football, for the whole family to enjoy in your homes.⁣
⁣https://t.co/twd82HAhpP pic.twitter.com/xrOwQzVSua

— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 30, 2020

According to CNN, the World Health Organization has confirmed nearly 1.3 million cases of coronavirus across the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Spain has the second-highest number of cases (135,032) and deaths (13,055).

Manchester City has launched an investigation into right back Kyle Walker after he allegedly hosted a party with a friend and two sex workers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

ESPN's Rob Dawson reported Walker is facing "disciplinary procedures" based on the actions alleged in a report by Richard Moriarty and Daniel Hammond of The Sun, which noted he invited the group to his home for a "three-hour sex session" one day before his Instagram post about COVID-19 safety measures.

Walker released an extended statement about the situation, per Dawson:

"I want to take this opportunity to issue a public apology for the choices I made last week which have resulted in a story today about my private life in a tabloid newspaper.

"I understand that my position as a professional footballer brings the responsibility of being a role model. As such, I want to apologise to my family, friends, football club, supporters and the public for letting them down.

"There are heroes out there making a vital difference to society at the moment, and I have been keen to help support and highlight their amazing sacrifices and life-saving work over the past week.

"My actions in this matter are in direct contrast to what I should have been doing regarding the lockdown. And I want to re-iterate the message: Stay home, stay safe."

The Sky Blues also released a statement, which read in part: "Manchester City FC are aware of a story in a tabloid newspaper regarding the private life of Kyle Walker in relation to a breach of the UK lockdown and social distancing rules." The club said it will review the allegations in the "coming days."

Fellow Premier League player Jack Grealish of Aston Villa was fined and disciplined by the club after releasing an apology saying he was "deeply embarrassed" after breaching lockdown recommendations and being involved in a traffic accident.

Walker has made 29 appearances for City across all competitions during the 2019-20 season, which is delayed indefinitely because of the coronavirus.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola donated €1 million to the Medical College of Barcelona to aid in the relief effort during the coronavirus pandemic, according to Goal's Sam France.

"The donation campaign promoted by the Medical College of Barcelona and managed through the Angel Soler Daniel Foundation aims to collect medical materials and financial contributions from collegiate doctors and the general population for the purchase of medical equipment and equipment that is currently lacking in health centres in Catalonia," the organization said in a statement.

More than 378,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed across the world, and doctors have diagnosed at least 35,000 cases in Spain, per CNN.

On March 13, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the government planned to declare a two-week state of emergency to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Sanchez told the country Sunday the state of emergency would last for 15 more days based on how the situation has evolved.

In Madrid, the regional government turned an ice rink into a temporary morgue because of the stress the pandemic has placed on the municipal funeral service.

Many throughout world football have made donations to help combat the coronavirus.

Manchester City and Manchester United combined to pledge £100,000 to the Trussell Trust, a charity that helps local food banks in the United Kingdom.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho has volunteered to help pack food and goods that get distributed throughout north London.

According to ESPN FC's Adriana Garcia, some La Liga clubs turned down the opportunity to get tested for COVID-19 so that the tests could be used on groups of people more vulnerable to the disease.

Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte has said that the Citizens' UEFA Champions League ban will hurt the club a lot.

Pep Guardiola's side have been banned from Europe's top competition for the next two seasons after breaching financial fair play (FFP) regulations, but City have announced they will appeal the decision.

Laporte told The Times (h/t Goal's Chris Burton) he remains happy at the Etihad Stadium, even though he may be unable to play Champions League football for the next two seasons:

"We are waiting for a final decision. We are going to see what happens next season. Obviously it would hurt us a lot if we aren't in the Champions League next season.

"I am very happy here at Manchester City. I am enjoying my football here. We are doing great things here. In the last two years, we have won eight trophies."

Manchester City have never won the Champions League but are in good shape to qualify for the quarter-finals in 2019-20 after beating Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

The competition has been suspended because of the current coronavirus pandemic, but there is optimism it can be completed by the end of June, per ESPN's Dale Johnson:

Europa League final June 24
Champions League final June 27
To be completed before contract expiry dates of June 30 https://t.co/vgsMigF05s

— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) March 17, 2020

Manchester City's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport may also be affected by the pandemic. The club were expecting a hearing in "early summer," but that now looks "unrealistic," according to Reuters (h/t the Observer, via the Guardian).  

The CAS have since announced they will not hear any appeals before May 1, per football writer Tariq Panja:

https://twitter.com/tariqpanja/status/1239692036036530176

If Manchester City's appeal is not heard before August 26, the decision could be suspended, according to AS (h/t Sean Lunt at Sport Witness).   

Leroy Sane has said his recovery from knee ligament damage "was the hardest and longest injury" of his career, with the German now working his way back to full fitness.

According to Jack Collins of the Mirror, the winger revealed the battle he's faced after suffering the injury during the FA Community Shield against Liverpool last August.

"It is difficult, especially the first day after the surgery because you can't move at all and that's not something any of us athletes are used to.

"You have to push yourself every day because you know it's a long rehab, but it is a good opportunity to work more on other weaknesses and that's why I took it as a chance to recover well and come back strong."

The 24-year-old's City contract expires at the end of next season, and the Germany international had been reportedly linked with a move back to the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, per Collins.

Sane has seen his reputation swell since moving to the Etihad Stadium in 2016 from Schalke, winning two Premier League titles, two Carabao Cups and the FA Cup.

The player's future remained in doubt during pre-season, but his injury halted any potential opportunity of a big-money switch to the German champions.

Sane thanked team-mates Ilkay Gundogan and Benjamin Mendy for helping him during his recovery. The pair have previously dealt with serious injury.

"The whole team supported me, of course, but I was especially talking to Gundogan and Mendy a little bit more about the injury, what they did, what could happen and their experience with everything," Sane said. "It helped me a lot to know how certain stuff feels and what can happen. It helped me and I'm very pleased that they pushed me along with that."

Sane was close to a Premier League return for City before the coronavirus outbreak halted the campaign.

The attacker could be an important part of Pep Guardiola's end-of-season planning, with the Sky Blues chasing UEFA Champions League glory.

Sane remains one of the most exciting players at Guardiola's disposal, and he might provide the difference by the end of the campaign.

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has given insight into training at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Premier League has been suspended until at least April 3 following the outbreak of the coronavirus.

In an interview with Marca's Juan Ignacio Garcia-Ochoa, Gundogan said: "We all have an individual training plan, and I can also use the gym at home, so keeping fit isn't a problem for me, to be honest. Yes, I really miss having a ball at my feet, but I don't think the break is going to affect me too much. I will keep fit."

When asked if manager Pep Guardiola was setting the players "homework," he added: "[Laughs] We're all connected on WhatsApp, and we're giving daily updates, talking about news. Then each one of us has their individual work plan. That's it, we can't do much else right now. But we're all connected to keep ourselves in the loop."

Aside from training, Gundogan has found other ways to occupy his time while at home:

When you can't go out on the pitch with your teammates ... it's time for some Football Manager sessions 🤷🏻‍♂⚽💻 #StayAtHome pic.twitter.com/ARxgaru1jV

— Ilkay Gündogan (@IlkayGuendogan) March 17, 2020

On Tuesday, UEFA announced that the 2020 European Championship will be postponed until 2021 and stated its intention for the club season to be completed before June 30.

ESPN's Dale Johnson noted the difficulties clubs might face in restarting football in the coming months given the need to self-isolate:

This means that even if football does return, divisions could soon be forced to stop when squads are forced into self-isolation.

If squads go into a 14-day self-isolation, it's reported players would need another 14 days after that to be match-fit. That's a month wiped out.

— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) March 16, 2020

To make matters more difficult for City in particular, they potentially have a lot of games left to play before June 30:

Under the current plan to complete the season in full by June 30, and a planned international break in June (games postponed this month), Manchester City will have to start playing by April 15 to fit all the games in - and that's with one-legged UCL QF and SF. #mcfc pic.twitter.com/C3KQGZk6So

— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) March 17, 2020

The Sky Blues have 10 Premier League matches remaining this season, and they're still in the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League.

Guardiola's side are away at Newcastle United in the quarter-final of the former, while in the latter they have a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid after one leg of their last-16 tie.

Per the Mirror's Chris Kitching, there have been 2,626 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United Kingdom, with a death toll of 72, although there are estimated to be around 55,000 people infected.

Worldwide, over 7,900 people have died, and there have been in excess of 198,000 confirmed cases, per CNN.

Ilkay Gundogan has warned that Manchester City must not underestimate Real Madrid if they eventually play their UEFA Champions League last-16 second leg. 

The Sky Blues won the first leg 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu last month. Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne scored in the last 12 minutes to turn the game on its head after Isco opened the scoring on the hour:

77’: 1-0
FT: 1-2

That escalated quickly 🤯 pic.twitter.com/r4JcghKK0Y

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 26, 2020

The return leg at the Etihad Stadium was supposed to take place on Tuesday but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic:

BREAKING: UEFA confirms all of next week's Champions League and Europa League games have been postponed pic.twitter.com/QG6qPy2Wj1

— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 13, 2020

Per Marca, Gundogan said he is hopeful the fixture will eventually be played, and he made it clear City cannot be complacent against "one of the best teams in Europe" despite their two away goals:

"I only know that the tie isn't decided yet. We'll see if we can play, let's hope so. The most important thing is not underestimating Madrid. We've only played half the tie and the difference is only one goal, so you can't get relaxed. Madrid are always dangerous."

The Germany international added that City only need to look to some recent precedents to know that the tie is far from over:

"Knockout ties in recent seasons have seen incredible comebacks that no one expected. We have to be careful. Even more so with Madrid."

In both Champions League semi-finals last season, the team that lost the first leg ended up reaching the final.

Tottenham Hotspur booked their spot by beating Ajax 3-2 in Amsterdam after losing 1-0 in London, and Liverpool beat Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield to advance despite a 3-0 loss at the Camp Nou.

City, meanwhile, were themselves victims of an impressive comeback by Monaco in the last 16 of the 2016-17 tournament, when the French team advanced despite losing the first leg 5-3.

That was in Pep Guardiola's first season in charge, and the Spaniard has been unable to launch a serious tilt at Europe's biggest prize since moving to the Etihad Stadium.

During his Barcelona tenure, he won the Champions Leagues twice in four seasons, and though he could not repeat that success in three campaigns at Bayern Munich, he did reach three semi-finals.

So far with City, Guardiola has only got as far as the last eight, but in 2019-20, the Champions League is now his top priority given it is all but impossible for the Sky Blues to defend their Premier League title:

How the table looks ahead of the weekend... pic.twitter.com/Npke6wZ3c4

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 11, 2020

After their first-leg result against Real, City are in a superb position to advance again to the quarter-finals, and assuming the 2019-20 season can eventually be finished, they will be well backed to go much further.