Manchester City will monitor Lionel Messi’s fall-out at Barcelona, with the Premier League champions believing they would be the Argentine superstar’s first choice if he ever walked away from Camp Nou.

Messi’s future has been thrown into uncertainty after his public clash with sporting director Eric Abidal this week .

The 32-year-old has a close relationship with City chief executive Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain, from their time at Barca and that is likely to be a crucial factor if he becomes available at the end of the season.

Soriano has always considered the six-time Ballon d’Or winner a dream signing – but accepted he would finish his career at Barca.

Privately he was confident City would be at the top of Messi’s list in the unlikely event his time with the Catalan giants was cut short. That possibility has suddenly come to the fore after Messi reacted angrily to Abidal’s suggestion that player power cost former coach Erneste Valverde his job.

In Pictures | Lionel Messi 40 show all In Pictures | Lionel Messi 1/40 Getty Images 2/40 Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group F match between Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina at Maracana on June 15, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 3/40 FIFA World player of the year winner Ronaldinho, the Gillette Best Young Player Award Leo Messi, and third place FIFA World player of the year Samuel Etoo pose with their trophies before La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Celta, at the Camp Nou stadium December 20, 2005 Getty Images 4/40 Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (C) vies with Real Madrid's Welsh forward Gareth Bale (L) and Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Luka Modric during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 2, 2019 AFP/Getty Images 5/40 Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks on as Catalan Pro-Independence flags are seen on the background during the La Liga match between Barcelona and SD Eibar at Camp Nou on September 19, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain Getty Images 6/40 Messi for Argentina Under 20s in 2005 vs PERU AFP/Getty Images 7/40 Lionel Messi from Argentina celebrates with the cup after winning the FIFA World Youth Championships 2005 Final between Argentina and Nigeria on July 2, 2005 in Utrecht, Netherlands Getty Images 8/40 FC Barcelona's Argentinian Messi scores the second goal against Albacete during their Spanish League football match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, 01 May 2005. FC Barcelona won 2-0 AFP/Getty Images 9/40 Argentine Lionel Messi (R) is fouled by Peruvian goalkeeper Leao Butron 09 October, 2005 at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, during their FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 South American qualifying round match. Argentina won 2-0 AFP/Getty Images 10/40 Argentina's footballer Lionel Messi (R) is marked by Brazil's Mineiro during their Copa America Venezuela-2007 final match at the Panchencho Romero Stadium July 15, 2007 in Maracaibo, Venezuela AFP/Getty Images 11/40 Argentinian forward Lionel Messi leaves the pitch with his gold medal after attending the men's Olympic football tournament medal ceremony at the national stadium in Beijing during the 2008 Beijing Olympic games on August 23, 2008. Argentina won gold ahead of Nigeria and Brazil AFP/Getty Images 12/40 Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Argentina sits on top of the world in 2009 Getty Images 13/40 Barcelona´s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (C) and Barcelona'´s midfielder Andres Iniesta (R) celebrate with the Champions League Cup afte the trophy ceremony on May 27, 2009 at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. Barcelona defeated Manchester United 2-0 in the final of the UEFA football Champions League AFP/Getty Images 14/40 Lionel Messi (2R) of Barcelona tests the defence of Manchester City (FLTR) Richard Dunne, Pablo Zabaleta, Gareth Barry and Stephen Ireland during the Joan Gamper Trophy match between Barcelona and Manchester City at the Camp Nou Stadium on August 19, 2009 in Barcelona, Spain. Manchester City won the match 1-0 Getty Images 15/40 Diego Maradona head coach of Argentina talks with Lionel Messi of Argentina as they celebrate victory after the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group B match between Argentina and South Korea at Soccer City Stadium on June 17, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa Getty Images 16/40 Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona poses with the trophy after victory in the UEFA Champions League final between FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC at Wembley Stadium on May 28, 2011 in London Getty Images 17/40 Lionel Messi of Argentina receives the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2012 trophy on January 7, 2013 in Zurich, Switzerland. Getty Images 18/40 David Beckham (R) of PSG shakes hands with Lionel Messi of Barcelona ahead of the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona FCB at Parc des Princes on April 2, 2013 in Paris, France Getty Images 19/40 Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's third goal as Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid looks dejected during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at the Bernabeu on March 23, 2014 in Madrid, Spain Getty Images 20/40 Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona with his son Thiago walk out the pitch prior to the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad de Futbol at Camp Nou on September 24, 2013 in Barcelona, Spain Getty Images 21/40 Sergio Aguero (L) and Lionel Messi of Argentina react while walking off the field after defeating Iran 1-0 during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group F match between Argentina and Iran at Estadio Mineirao on June 21, 2014 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil Getty Images 22/40 Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany hugs Lionel Messi of Argentina after Germany's 1-0 victory in extra time during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final match between Germany and Argentina at Maracana on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 23/40 Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona with the match ball after scoring three goals during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol at Camp Nou on December 7, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain Getty Images 24/40 Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona performs an overhead kick under a challenge by Nicolas Otamendi of Valencia CF during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Valencia CF at Camp Nou on April 18, 2015 in Barcelona, Spain Getty Images 25/40 FIFA Ballon d'Or nominees Lionel Messi of Argentina and FC Barcelona (L) and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid smile during the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2014 at the Kongresshaus on January 12, 2015 in Zurich, Switzerland. Getty Images 26/40 Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates with the trophy after the UEFA Champions League Final between Juventus and FC Barcelona at Olympiastadion on June 6, 2015 in Berlin, Germany Getty Images 27/40 Barcelona players including Javier Mascherano, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez celebrate victory with the trophy after the UEFA Champions League Final between Juventus and FC Barcelona at Olympiastadion on June 6, 2015 in Berlin, Germany Getty Images 28/40 Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates with his winners medal after victory in the UEFA Super Cup between Barcelona and Sevilla FC at Dinamo Arena on August 11, 2015 in Tbilisi, Georgia Getty Images 29/40 Lionel Messi of Argentina and FC Barcelona and his partner Antonella Roccuzzo attend the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland Getty Images 30/40 Lionel Messi of Argentina and FC Barcelona receives the Ballon d'or during the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland Getty Images 31/40 Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona holds up the FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy prior to the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club de Bilbao at Camp Nou on January 17, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain Getty Images 32/40 Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina interacts with a fan who ran onto the field prior to the start of the second half during a 2016 Copa America Centenario Semifinal match between Argentina and the United States at NRG Stadium on June 21, 2016 in Houston, Texas Getty Images 33/40 Argentina's Lionel Messi (C) is marked by Chile's Arturo Vidal (L) eyed by Argentina's Ever Banega during the Copa America Centenario final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States, on June 26, 2016 AFP/Getty Images 34/40 Lionel Messi (L) and Andres Iniesta (R) of FC Barcelona lift up the Spanish La Liga 2015-2016 season trophy before the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis Balompie at Camp Nou on August 20, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain Getty Images 35/40 Neymar (R) of Brazil greets Lionel Messi of Argentina during a match between Brazil and Argentina as part of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifier at Mineirao stadium on November 10, 2016 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil Getty Images 36/40 Gianluigi Buffon, Dani Alves, Leonardo Bonucci, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Andres Iniesta; Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar pose for a selfie as they are named The Fifa FifPro World XI during The Best FIFA Football Awards Show on October 23, 2017 in London Getty Images 37/40 Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi poses with his four Golden Shoe awards after receiving the 2017 European Golden Shoe honoring the year's leading goalscorer during a ceremony at the Antigua Fabrica Estrella Damm in Barcelona on November 24, 2017 AFP/Getty Images 38/40 Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona in action during the La Liga match between Real Betis Balompie and FC Barcelona at Estadio Benito Villamarin on March 17, 2019 in Seville, Spain Getty Images 39/40 AFP via Getty Images 40/40 Lionel Messi after Barcelona were thrashed 8-2 by Bayern Munich. POOL/AFP via Getty Images 1/40 Getty Images 2/40 Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group F match between Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina at Maracana on June 15, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 3/40 FIFA World player of the year winner Ronaldinho, the Gillette Best Young Player Award Leo Messi, and third place FIFA World player of the year Samuel Etoo pose with their trophies before La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Celta, at the Camp Nou stadium December 20, 2005 Getty Images 4/40 Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (C) vies with Real Madrid's Welsh forward Gareth Bale (L) and Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Luka Modric during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 2, 2019 AFP/Getty Images 5/40 Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks on as Catalan Pro-Independence flags are seen on the background during the La Liga match between Barcelona and SD Eibar at Camp Nou on September 19, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain Getty Images 6/40 Messi for Argentina Under 20s in 2005 vs PERU AFP/Getty Images 7/40 Lionel Messi from Argentina celebrates with the cup after winning the FIFA World Youth Championships 2005 Final between Argentina and Nigeria on July 2, 2005 in Utrecht, Netherlands Getty Images 8/40 FC Barcelona's Argentinian Messi scores the second goal against Albacete during their Spanish League football match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, 01 May 2005. FC Barcelona won 2-0 AFP/Getty Images 9/40 Argentine Lionel Messi (R) is fouled by Peruvian goalkeeper Leao Butron 09 October, 2005 at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, during their FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 South American qualifying round match. Argentina won 2-0 AFP/Getty Images 10/40 Argentina's footballer Lionel Messi (R) is marked by Brazil's Mineiro during their Copa America Venezuela-2007 final match at the Panchencho Romero Stadium July 15, 2007 in Maracaibo, Venezuela AFP/Getty Images 11/40 Argentinian forward Lionel Messi leaves the pitch with his gold medal after attending the men's Olympic football tournament medal ceremony at the national stadium in Beijing during the 2008 Beijing Olympic games on August 23, 2008. Argentina won gold ahead of Nigeria and Brazil AFP/Getty Images 12/40 Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Argentina sits on top of the world in 2009 Getty Images 13/40 Barcelona´s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (C) and Barcelona'´s midfielder Andres Iniesta (R) celebrate with the Champions League Cup afte the trophy ceremony on May 27, 2009 at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. Barcelona defeated Manchester United 2-0 in the final of the UEFA football Champions League AFP/Getty Images 14/40 Lionel Messi (2R) of Barcelona tests the defence of Manchester City (FLTR) Richard Dunne, Pablo Zabaleta, Gareth Barry and Stephen Ireland during the Joan Gamper Trophy match between Barcelona and Manchester City at the Camp Nou Stadium on August 19, 2009 in Barcelona, Spain. Manchester City won the match 1-0 Getty Images 15/40 Diego Maradona head coach of Argentina talks with Lionel Messi of Argentina as they celebrate victory after the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group B match between Argentina and South Korea at Soccer City Stadium on June 17, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa Getty Images 16/40 Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona poses with the trophy after victory in the UEFA Champions League final between FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC at Wembley Stadium on May 28, 2011 in London Getty Images 17/40 Lionel Messi of Argentina receives the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2012 trophy on January 7, 2013 in Zurich, Switzerland. Getty Images 18/40 David Beckham (R) of PSG shakes hands with Lionel Messi of Barcelona ahead of the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona FCB at Parc des Princes on April 2, 2013 in Paris, France Getty Images 19/40 Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's third goal as Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid looks dejected during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at the Bernabeu on March 23, 2014 in Madrid, Spain Getty Images 20/40 Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona with his son Thiago walk out the pitch prior to the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad de Futbol at Camp Nou on September 24, 2013 in Barcelona, Spain Getty Images 21/40 Sergio Aguero (L) and Lionel Messi of Argentina react while walking off the field after defeating Iran 1-0 during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group F match between Argentina and Iran at Estadio Mineirao on June 21, 2014 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil Getty Images 22/40 Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany hugs Lionel Messi of Argentina after Germany's 1-0 victory in extra time during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final match between Germany and Argentina at Maracana on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Getty Images 23/40 Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona with the match ball after scoring three goals during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol at Camp Nou on December 7, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain Getty Images 24/40 Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona performs an overhead kick under a challenge by Nicolas Otamendi of Valencia CF during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Valencia CF at Camp Nou on April 18, 2015 in Barcelona, Spain Getty Images 25/40 FIFA Ballon d'Or nominees Lionel Messi of Argentina and FC Barcelona (L) and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid smile during the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2014 at the Kongresshaus on January 12, 2015 in Zurich, Switzerland. Getty Images 26/40 Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates with the trophy after the UEFA Champions League Final between Juventus and FC Barcelona at Olympiastadion on June 6, 2015 in Berlin, Germany Getty Images 27/40 Barcelona players including Javier Mascherano, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez celebrate victory with the trophy after the UEFA Champions League Final between Juventus and FC Barcelona at Olympiastadion on June 6, 2015 in Berlin, Germany Getty Images 28/40 Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates with his winners medal after victory in the UEFA Super Cup between Barcelona and Sevilla FC at Dinamo Arena on August 11, 2015 in Tbilisi, Georgia Getty Images 29/40 Lionel Messi of Argentina and FC Barcelona and his partner Antonella Roccuzzo attend the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland Getty Images 30/40 Lionel Messi of Argentina and FC Barcelona receives the Ballon d'or during the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland Getty Images 31/40 Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona holds up the FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy prior to the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club de Bilbao at Camp Nou on January 17, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain Getty Images 32/40 Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina interacts with a fan who ran onto the field prior to the start of the second half during a 2016 Copa America Centenario Semifinal match between Argentina and the United States at NRG Stadium on June 21, 2016 in Houston, Texas Getty Images 33/40 Argentina's Lionel Messi (C) is marked by Chile's Arturo Vidal (L) eyed by Argentina's Ever Banega during the Copa America Centenario final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States, on June 26, 2016 AFP/Getty Images 34/40 Lionel Messi (L) and Andres Iniesta (R) of FC Barcelona lift up the Spanish La Liga 2015-2016 season trophy before the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis Balompie at Camp Nou on August 20, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain Getty Images 35/40 Neymar (R) of Brazil greets Lionel Messi of Argentina during a match between Brazil and Argentina as part of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifier at Mineirao stadium on November 10, 2016 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil Getty Images 36/40 Gianluigi Buffon, Dani Alves, Leonardo Bonucci, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Andres Iniesta; Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar pose for a selfie as they are named The Fifa FifPro World XI during The Best FIFA Football Awards Show on October 23, 2017 in London Getty Images 37/40 Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi poses with his four Golden Shoe awards after receiving the 2017 European Golden Shoe honoring the year's leading goalscorer during a ceremony at the Antigua Fabrica Estrella Damm in Barcelona on November 24, 2017 AFP/Getty Images 38/40 Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona in action during the La Liga match between Real Betis Balompie and FC Barcelona at Estadio Benito Villamarin on March 17, 2019 in Seville, Spain Getty Images 39/40 AFP via Getty Images 40/40 Lionel Messi after Barcelona were thrashed 8-2 by Bayern Munich. POOL/AFP via Getty Images

He took to Instagram to respond, saying: “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.”

It is claimed Messi could become a free agent this summer as part of the contract he signed in 2017. Under the terms of that agreement it’s believed he can leave for nothing in the penultimate summer of his deal. But City would have to meet his annual salary of £57.2m-a-year, which would make him by far the highest paid player at the club.