Maradona Claims Messi May Leave Barcelona Amid Manchester City Interest

Argentinian legend Diego Maradona has said that Lionel Messi may leave Barcelona at the end of the season, with reports in Spain claiming that Manchester City are monitoring the negotiations between club and player over a new contract.

Last month Spanish newspaper El Confidencial reported that City were set to pay a record-breaking €200m to secure Messi's services, increasing the speculation about his future as Barcelona are struggling to agree terms with his father over a new contract.

Maradona has fuelled those rumours, claiming that he really believes that Messi may move away in the summer, as Barcelona's new officials are changing many things at the club - but he believes Bayern, not City, are a genuine possibility.

"I really believe that today Messi could be wearing another shirt," Maradona was quoted as saying by Mundo Deportivo.

"Before, the power of Barcelona's officials was so strong that they didn't even allow them to put an advertisement on their shirt. But today they have Qatar Airways.

"If Barcelona now allow to have advertising in their shirt why couldn't Messi play for Bayern?"

Maradona, who managed Messi during the 2010 World Cup during his spell as Argentina boss, added that if Bayern signed his compatriot to partner Robert Lewandowski up front next season, they would be invincible.

"Lewandowski and Messi? Then everyone else would play for second place. In every competition, in every league."

Last night Bayern clinched the Bundesliga title in record time with seven games to spare.

And Maradona heaped praise on manager Pep Guardiola for his record, as he is yet to lose a match in the Bundesliga.

"I would like to work for a week with Guardiola to watch him in training. I would be very happy to visit Bayern Munich," the former Argentina star said.