Sources have told The Athletic that Manchester City believe there is some chance of signing Lionel Messi this summer. They have been waiting for an opportunity for over a decade and after previous near-misses this will surely be their last opportunity.



They know they will have to tread carefully and realise their chances are slim but City have coveted Messi every bit as much as they did Pep Guardiola, the coach they admitted they first tried to recruit in 2012 — the year Roberto Mancini led them to their first Premier League title.



It would have been one of the most ruthless managerial changes in English football history, swapping a newly-minted club legend for their ultimate target while there were still bubbles in the champagne.



But that’s how much they wanted Guardiola when he was leaving Barcelona. And that’s how much they want Messi now. They came close in 2016, had no chance the following year when he penned his most recent contract...