Manchester City believe that they will be first choice if Lionel Messi decides to leave Barcelona.

So Blues top brass Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain will have been sitting up in their seats when news of the Barcelona superstar’s row with his club’s own sporting director Eric Abidal broke last night.

And the recent revelation of an intriguing contract clause which Messi had inserted in his last Barca deal will only serve to heighten that interest.

Messi has taken exception, in a very public way, to former teammate Abidal criticising the attitude of some of the Barca squad during coach Ernesto Valverde’s ill-fated reign.

Abidal said “A lot of players were not happy and did not work much and there was also a problem with internal communication.”

That prompted an extraordinary reply from 32-year-old Messi on Instagram, taking Abidal to task.

He said: “I honestly do not like to do this kind of thing but I think that everyone has to be responsible for their job and take responsibility for their decision.

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“Players for what happens on the field, we are also the first to acknowledge when we don't play well.

“Those in charge of sporting direction should also face up to their responsibilities and above all take charge of their own decisions.

“Lastly, I think that when you talk about players, you should give names because otherwise you are tainting everyone's name and feeding rumours that spread and are not true.”

Barca have moved to smooth over the row by getting the two men together, but if there is a hint that Messi could be unhappy, City will be at the front of the queue to give him an escape route.

City chief executive Ferran Soriano and football director Txiki Begiristain are old friends, while Sergio Aguero is perhaps Messi’s closest friend in football.

And, of course, Messi and City boss Pep Guardiola achieved great things together at the Nou Camp, and the Blues manager would love the chance for a last hurrah with the Argentine ace he has declared to be the greatest player in history.

If they did persuade him to go to the Etihad Stadium, City would also get him on a free transfer.

Messi, like other Barca star before him, has a clause written into his contract – which expires in 2021 – allowing him to leave for nothing this summer.

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu revealed: “Messi signed until 2021. It was agreed that at the end of the penultimate season he is at liberty to leave for free.

“He has earned that freedom to decide his future, but he is very Cule (Barcelona fan) and I am calm. Xavi, Iniesta and Puyol had the same clause.

“We couldn't give Messi a different clause, but I repeat, I am in no doubt he will stay for many years.”

Guardiola has repeatedly said he thinks Messi will end his playing career at Barca, and when he was asked about signing him, after claims in Spain that he had tried to persuade him to come to Manchester, the manager said it was not on the cards, but then added: “But maybe one day the lad will decide that he wants to play somewhere else.

“Maybe he will want his kids to learn English, I don’t know. And if that happens, which I hope it won’t, then there will be a list of four, five or six clubs who will want to sign him.”