Manchester City making eyes at Lionel Messi

● Manchester City are hoping Lionel Messi’s close friendship with Sergio Aguero will help them pull off possibly the most expensive transfer deal in history.

The Daily Telegraph understands that Aguero contacted his international teammate this week after it emerged that City were investigating a possible deal that could cost up to £500m (about R11bn).

Messi attempted to activate a release clause in his contract, but Barca are refusing to honour the request, claiming he missed a deadline of June 10. They are understood to be holding out for a world-record £200m fee.

City would also need to satisfy the demands of a player who earns about £100m a year in wages and bonuses, but the club are confident they lead the queue for his signature and Aguero could be key to negotiations.

Messi has described Aguero as “like a brother”, the pair having come through the national team’s age group system at the same time.

The 33-year-old revealed the strength of their bond when, in his foreword to Aguero’s autobiography, Born to Rise, Messi recalled the time they first met in the Argentina under-20 squad in 2005.

“We clicked right away,” Messi wrote. “We were the youngest players in the squad, which meant that we spent more time together. He was a real character, a really sound guy, capable of listening and then saying exactly the right thing to let you know he was there for you or, with perfect delivery, to make you burst out laughing.”

Messi also expressed admiration for Aguero’s football, adding: “On the field, he was talented, a winner, a born competitor who never knew when he was beaten.

“I got to know Kun’s story from hearing it and, in large part, because I was able to live through it alongside him.”

Reports in France claim Messi’s father, Jorge, told Paris St-Germain his son’s preferred destination was the Manchester club.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp suspects the cost of the deal would prove prohibitive even for a side with City’s financial clout.

“For the Premier League, it would be great, 100%, to have the best player in the world in the league,” he said. “It would be interesting. Messi never played in another league other than in Spain. I would like to see it, but I’m not sure I will.”

He ruled out Liverpool showing any interest.