Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has revealed that the Premier League champions offered to triple Lionel Messi s wages in an unsuccessful attempt to bring the Barcelona superstar to England in 2016.
Big-spending City were linked with moves for the likes of Kaka and Messi for many years, before assembling a record-breaking Premier League outfit under Pep Guardiola.
But Al Mubarak confirmed that there was truth to reports City were hoping to recruit five-time Ballon d Or winner Messi, with former Barca boss Guardiola tasked with speaking to the Argentinian.
However, even a hefty pay rise would not prove tempting enough for Messi to depart Camp Nou.
We asked Guardiola to talk to [Messi], Al Mubarak told a news conference in the United Arab Emirates, having identified the Barca star as the one player he wished he had signed.
2 Cristiano Ronaldo scored 450 goals in his Real Madrid career – Lionel Messi scored 472 goals during the time they played together in Spain. Age.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose)
We offered to triple the salary he has at Barcelona, but he did not accept it.
Messi is Barcelona s record goalscorer and has played a part in four Champions League successes since coming through the club s La Masia academy.
The 31-year-old has scored 11 goals in 11 games in all competitions so far this season.