PEP GUARDIOLA WANTS MESSI TO END CAREER AT BARCELONA

MANCHESTER City manager Pep Guardiola says he wants Lionel Messi to finish his career at Barcelona. Guardiola signed a two-year contract extension with City on Thursday and was immediately linked with his ex-player, who came close to moving last summer.

Messi's contract ends next summer and he could sign pre-contract terms with any club outside Spain from January 1.

Guardiola said: "Messi is a Barcelona player. I said it a thousand times. As a fan, I want Leo to finish there."

Argentine playmaker Messi had looked set to join City after putting in a transfer request in August, only for Barcelona's then-president Josep Maria Bartomeu to block the transfer.

Bartomeu then resigned in October but Messi's future remains uncertain.

"His contract finishes this year (season) and I don't know what will happen in his mind," Guardiola said.

Paris St-Germain have also been linked with the 33-year- old, although every candidate Barcelona presidential election - to be held in January - has said it is a priority for them to persuade Messi to stay at the Nou Camp.

"I have huge gratitude for Barcelona and what they have done for me," said Guardiola, who worked with Messi when managing Barcelona between 2008 and 2012. – BBC.