The Fans Football Blog3

Following yesterday's rumour about Manchester City supposedly preparing a record bid for Barcelona right wing attacker and Argentinian international Lionel Messi (21) in the summer (read more here), the English Premier League club has published an official statement on its website denying the story:

"Following an article in The Sun newspaper which claimed that Manchester City are preparing a £100m bid for Lionel Messi, the Club would like to make the following information clear.

The story is untrue and this fact has been accepted by the newspaper in question. General comments about Lionel Messi, made by Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim, who holds no position at the Club, were mistakenly linked to Manchester City. The article was printed in error and an apology to His Highness Sheikh Mansour, Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim and a correction in Saturday's edition of the newspaper will follow."

Asked about the new rumours linking Messi with Manchester City, Barcelona president Joan Laporta said yesterday in an interview with Spanish radio station Radio Punto that he's not worried about a possible bid: "Football players are being well advised and they know that the idea of tycoons in football doesn't work, it's fake. Barça is the standard club at this moment and I'm not at all afraid by these attempts. Leo knows that Barcelona will always do everything to make him feel comfortable. it's the best player in the world and he's very involved with the club."

Read more:
Manchester City preparing a move for Henry
WAG: Lionel Messi
Manchester City planning record bid for Messi