Report: Manchester City eye chance to sign Messi after Barcelona unrest

Manchester City suspect they have a chance to sign Barcelona star Lionel Messi this summer.

Though City understand that the likelihood of luring Messi to England is slim, the current conflict at Barcelona has boosted the prospect, according to a report from The Athletic's Sam Lee.

The two-time reigning Premier League champs have long coveted the record six-time Ballon d'Or winner. According to Lee, City believe there's a clause in Messi's £57-million-per-year contract that would allow him to leave on a free transfer this summer.

According to reports, the clause only applies to non-European clubs - something City also believe they could sidestep - and states that Messi is permitted to leave during the summer transfer window if the decision is reported to Barcelona by the end of May. Messi's current terms with the 26-time La Liga winners were agreed in November 2017 and run until June 30, 2021.

Messi's status in the Catalan capital is as tenuous as ever after a public denunciation of Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal. Abidal - who played alongside Messi at the Camp Nou - first claimed that several Barcelona players pushed for the sacking of former manager Ernesto Valverde.

Abidal's assertions prompted a rare social media message on Instagram from Messi, who claimed that Abidal should name specific players instead of "throwing dirt at everyone and starting rumors that aren’t true." Abidal then kept his job following emergency talks with club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

City are understood to be on good terms with Messi's father and agent, Jorge, after an initial approach for the Argentine a decade ago. Former Barcelona and current City employees - CEO Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain - were initially hired by the club in 2012 to help bring manager Pep Guardiola and Messi to the Etihad Stadium.