Manchester City 'expecting to miss out on Lionel Messi deal'

Manchester City are reportedly no longer confident of bringing Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi to the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.

Messi's existing deal with Barca is due to expire in June, and Man City have been strongly linked with the Argentina international.

The Citizens are one of only two clubs in world football, the other being Paris Saint-Germain, that could realistically afford to meet the South American's wage demands if he were to leave Camp Nou.

However, according to Football Insider, Pep Guardiola's side are expecting Messi to sign another 'blockbuster contract' with Barca to keep him at the club for the rest of his career.

The report claims that the 33-year-old's relationship with the Catalan outfit's new president Joan Laporta means that the attacker is now unlikely to seek pastures new.

Messi has again been in impressive form at club level during the 2020-21 campaign, scoring 27 times and contributing 12 assists in 36 appearances in all competitions.