Manchester\nUnited are reportedly one of a number of clubs interested in a shock move for\nLionel Messi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nsix-time Ballon d’Or winner is rumoured to be unsettled at the Nou Camp after a\ntraining ground bust-up and social media row – and could leave on a free\ntransfer at the end of the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A\nreunion with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City has been mooted, but the reigning\nPremier League champions don’t expect him to quit the Nou Camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But\naccording to Gazzetta dello Sport, Manchester United have entered the race for\nthe 32-year-old superstar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nhighly respected Italian sports newspaper says the Red Devils are one of five\nclubs who have the financial muscle to complete a deal for the forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Along\nwith United, local rivals Man City are also mentioned, as are Paris\nSaint-Germain – where he could reunited with former team-mate Neymar – as well\nas Inter Milan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Juventus\nare the final club to be mentioned – giving fans the chance to dream about a\ndream pairing between Messi and great rival Cristiano Ronaldo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Messi’s\nbust-up at Barcelona has come after a row with the club’s sporting director\nEric Abidal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\nis understood that the Argentine was frustrated with his former team-mate’s\ngeneral criticism of the squad in Ernesto Valverde’s final weeks at the club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He\ntook to social media to reply, writing: “Those in charge of sporting\ndirection should also face up to their responsibilities and above all take\ncharge of their own decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen\nyou talk about players you should give names, otherwise you are tainting\neveryone\u2019s name and feeding rumours which are not true.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barcelona\nchiefs decided to sack Valverde last month despite the team sitting top of the\nLaLiga table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And\nsince successor Quique Setien has taken over, the Catalan giants have slipped\nto second behind Real Madrid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\nare still 18 months left on Messi’s contract at the Nou Camp, which pays him a\nstaggering \u00a31million a week, but the deal involves a sensational clause that\nallows him to leave for NOTHING in the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This,\ncoupled with his public Barca bust-up, has alerted top clubs around Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However,\nit so far appears highly unlikely that Messi will actually leave the Nou Camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And\ndespite his apparent unhappiness, Messi has still delivered in typical fashion\nthis season – netting 19 goals and laying on a further 12 for his team-mates in\n24 appearances.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Manchester United are reportedly one of a number of clubs interested in a shock move for Lionel Messi. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner is rumoured to be unsettled at the Nou Camp after a training ground bust-up and social media row – and could leave on a free transfer at the end of the season. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27983,"featured_media":13789,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_paywall_metabox":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[102],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n