Pep Guardiola insists he never tried to lure Lionel Messi to Manchester City.

The Catalan has long-claimed Messi will end his career at Barcelona – but continues to be linked with a move for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

It has most recently been claimed City were ready to pay Messi’s 250m euro release clause and offer the Argentine a salary of £220m net in wages over five years.

But Guardiola is adamant it was never a consideration to reunite with the player he describes as the greatest of all time – either at City or former club Bayern Munich before that.

The City manager said: “When I left Barcelona and went to Bayern Munich and Manchester City I never asked Messi to come here. I never went to both clubs and said I want this player.

“I know how important he is for Barcelona. I never made the first step to say I want this player. Never.

“I said a thousand times I want him to stay at Barcelona. I want that.”

While Guardiola has ruled out a move for Messi, he is facing up to the prospect of another prolonged period without City’s own talisman after Kevin de Bruyne suffered ligament damage to his left knee.

The Belgian international was injured during a collision with Timothy Fosu-Mensah during City’s 2-0 EFL Cup win against Fulham on Thursday night.

De Bruyne – who has only just returned from ligament damage to his right knee - is set to miss seven games and faces a fight to be back in time for the December 8 clash with Chelsea.

He is due to undergo treatment from Barcelona-based Dr Ramon Cugat, but will not require further surgery.

Guardiola said: “This kind of injury is unlucky. He’s so strong and he’s recovered so well. It was more dangerous than this one.

“He’ll recover well. We have an excellent medical department. I’m more concerned about muscular injuries. He’s unlucky with that situation.”

Despite see City rise to the top of the table without De Bruyne, Guardiola admits it will be major blow to cope without him for another five to six weeks.

“We are a stronger team with Kevin than without him, but we have to live without him,” he added. “I was so sad, I didn’t see him after the game. The next day he’ll be strong again. he’ll spend the time with his new (baby) boy.

“Hopefully we’ll be in the knockout of the Champions League when he comes back. It will help us in the last part that he will be fresh to help us reach our targets.”

Ilkay Gundogan is back in contention to face Southampton on Sunday after recovering from a hamstring injury – but Nicolas Otamendi is unlikely to be available due to a tendon problem.