Maybe in two or five years he will get bored with La Liga, want a change and come over here.
Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo believes Lionel Messi could be tempted to come to the Premier League if he gets bored of life in the Primera Division.
There has been a steady stream of world-class talent moving from Spain to England in recent years, including stars such as Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Mesut Ozil, and Negredo believes the Premier League is now the place to be for the game's leading players.
Arguably the best footballer on the planet is not currently plying his trade in England though, with four-time reigning world player of the year Messi, 26, continuing to torment opposition defences for Spanish giants Barcelona, where he has spent his whole professional career so far.
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Pellegrini on Champions League Clash: "I am sure we will see a very high performance tomorrow.”
Manuel Pellegrini’s record against Pep Guardiola is a sorry one but he gets another chance to finally put one over his tormentor when Manchester City host holders Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.
During his time in La Liga the Chilean was in the opposing dugout to former Barcelona coach Guardiola on eight occasions and only avoided defeat once when his Villarreal side drew 3-3 in the Nou Camp in the 2008-09 season.
His brief stay at Real Madrid included two El Classico defeats by Guardiola’s Barca and the trend continued at Malaga where he soaked up another four losses against the Catalans.
The furniture has been re-arranged in European soccer, however, and Pellegrini will feel his expensively-assembled Man City side will start as equals to Bayern who have yet to really spark under Guardiola even if they are unbeaten.
Pellegrini was head-hunted by City at the end of last season partly because of his tactical nous in the Champions League in which he had Villarreal and Malaga punching above their weight.
He has never failed to survive the group stage in his previous Champions League campaigns and City’s opening day 3-0 win away to Viktoria Plzen has raised hopes that they can finally make their mark on the competition having twice fallen short of the knockout rounds.
Despite that emphatic victory in the Czech Republic Pellegrini’s opening weeks in charge of City have been far from smooth with two defeats in their opening six Premier League games, the latest a 3-2 loss at Aston Villa on Saturday.
Pellegrini was baffled by his side’s loss at Villa, having dominated for long spells, but said it would have no adverse effect on morale ahead of a visit from the European champions.
City will be boosted by the return of midfielder David Silva who has been out since the end of August.
The Spain international has missed five games since suffering a thigh injury on international duty. Striker Sergio Aguero, not risked on Saturday due to a minor knock, is also likely to feature in the glamour Group D clash at the Etihad Stadium.
Pellegrini said: “David is in the squad. I think he can at least play some minutes. Sergio is fit and he is also on the list.”
Pellegrini wants his players to respond after their disappointment at Villa Park, where they surrendered a 2-1 lead to lose 3-2. The result ended a run of three successive wins in which City had scored 12 goals and started to look like the serious force they aspire to be.
Pellegrini added: “Of course, I always expect a big response from the players.
“We respect the Champions League very well and it is very important for us to continue against the most difficult team in the group.
“I am sure we will see a very high performance tomorrow.”
Guardiola’s start at treble-winning Bayern has been efficient rather than spectacular with Saturday’s 1-0 win at home to VfL Wolfsburg indicative of their form so far.
“It is very difficult at this moment to improve with Bayern because they won the last three competitions but he will find a way because he is a very good manager,” Pellegrini, who does not have that dilemma at City, said.
Bayern began the defence of their European crown with a 3-0 home win against CSKA Moscow and there are already signs that the Bundesliga giants are playing a more intricate, possession-based game than under the more direct Jupp Heynkes.
Against CSKA Bayern completed 753 passes, more than any other team in the opening group games, and Bayern are unlikely to change that blueprint throughout the campaign, even if Guardiola admits his side have room for improvement.
“We need to do some things better even though we won against Wolfsburg,” Guardiola, who won 14 trophies in four seasons in charge of Barcelona, told reporters. “I am certain we will put in a good performance against Manchester.”
Bayern lost to City two years ago when they had already qualified for the last 16 and defender Jerome Boateng, formerly of City, believes under Pellegrini the Premier League side can be even more of a threat in Europe.
“I think so they are stronger, new coach, changes in tactics. They play even better together now. Not like two years ago. They are more of a team,” he said.
Clichy: "We have all the ingredients to win the title again"
Gael Clichy is in no doubt that Manchester City have all the
necessary tools to regain the Premier League title this season.
City won the crown in 2011-12 in dramatic circumstances
thanks to Sergio Aguero's injury-time winner against Queens Park Rangers on the
last day of the campaign.
However, they tamely relinquished the title to Manchester
United last time around, finishing 11 points behind their neighbours in second
- a performance that cost manager Roberto Mancini his job.
But new boss Manuel Pellegrini made several top-class
signings in the close-season, with Fernandinho, Stevan Jovetic, Alvaro Negredo
and Jesus Navas all arriving at the Etihad Stadium for combined fees of around
£90million.
And France international Clichy believes these new players -
along with the effect of having a new man in charge - can provide the impetus
City need to finish top of the pile once again this term.
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Atletico Madrid defender Martin Demichelis is having a medical ahead of a move to Manchester City
The Argentina international, predominantly a centre-back, would reportedly cost City around £4m and provide them with a veteran replacement for Kolo Toure, who left for Liverpool earlier this summer.
Boss Manuel Pellegrini is seeking reinforcements at the back, with Vincent Kompany likely to miss the next six weeks and Matija Nastasic only just back after a hamstring injury.
The Chilean was interested in Real Madrid's Pepe but now turns his attentions to a player he knows well from their time together at Malaga.
Demichelis only signed for Atletico two months ago after the expiry of his deal with Malaga, for whom he played 83 times, scoring eight goals.
The 32-year-old played nearly 250 times in Germany for Bayern Munich and has 37 caps for his country.
For more Transfer News on the move, follow #TransferDeadlineDay on Twitter
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini says Gareth Barry wants to stay
The England international has been strongly linked with a move to Everton, with the Toffees looking to land the midfielder on a season-long loan.
Barry has entered the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and faces fierce competition for places.
City have invested heavily over the summer, with £30million spent on Ferdinando - a man who will be looking to fill the same position as Barry.
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Pablo Zabaleta has committed his long-term future to Manchester City by signing a new four-year contract
The defender, who was voted Etihad Player of the Year for 2012/13, joined City in 2008 from Espanyol and has gone on to make 175 appearances for the club.
Zabaleta said: "I have been here for five years and it feels like home. Signing a contract extension with the club makes me feel very happy.
"I feel great here, I like the Premiership, and I think Manchester City are one of the clubs looking for success in the future. It is a club that is very well-organised and when you see that everything works well you want to be here."
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City Defender Joleon Lescott out to win new contract
Lescott is entering the final year of his contract at City and he has been linked with a move away from the club this summer.
The England international found himself out of favour last season under former City chief Roberto Mancini, but he is keen to establish himself under new boss Manuel Pellegrini to boost his chances of winning a new deal and securing a place in the national squad.
"If he (Manuel Pellegrini) does call upon me then I'd like to say I'd give 100 per cent and do his decision justice," Lescott told talkSPORT.
"I'm in the last year of my contract now so I've got to get my head down and try and earn a new one here and remain here.
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Real Madrid's Pepe guarded over Manchester City links
Real Madrid defender Pepe has remained coy over his future following speculation linking him with Manchester City.
Recently installed City boss Manuel Pellegrini worked with the Portuguese player during his time in charge of Real, and is looking to bring in more new faces to his squad.
Real supremo Florentino Perez claimed Pepe was not for sale in July, and Pellegrini would not be drawn when asked about the 30-year-old on City's recent pre-season visit to Hong Kong.
Former City captain Kolo Toure left the 2012 Premier League champions for Liverpool when his contract expired this summer, and with England international Joleon Lescott entering the final year of his deal at City, another defender could be on Pellegrini's wish-list.
But speaking after Real's pre-season friendly with Everton in Los Angeles, Pepe was guarded when asked about a possible move away from the Bernabeu.
"I'm a professional. They left a lot of things at the end of last season but I have a contract to fulfil," said Pepe, who played in both Real Madrid v Man City matches in last season's Champions League.
"I'm talking to the president of Madrid and my representatives to see what will happen.
"I have a contract, I love the club and I have great affection for the people."
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