Reports: Barca Ignore Messi's Transfer Request
21 January, 2020
FC Barcelona captain Lionel Messi is believed to have made a transfer request to the Catalan club, though reports claim his suggestion has been shut down by the board.
According to the Mirror, the 32-year-old reportedly asked manager Quique Setien to make a move for Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.
The injury to star striker Luis Suarez has left the team short in attack, and not just in terms of numbers, but in terms of his invaluable connection with Messi.
The skipper, looking for somebody to find a similar on-field relationship with, was believed to make the suggestion to the club that Aguero could be that player.
It has, however, been claimed that the Blaugrana will not move for the City striker, who has scored five goals in last two Premier League appearances.
Aguero, who joined City in 2011, has scored 251 goals in 360 matches for the Premier League champions, winning four league titles.
Suarez will be out injured until April, and in the new manager’s first game in charge, Setien started with a front three of Antoine Griezmann, Ansu Fati and Messi, with the Argentine predominantly taking up a central position.
The new boss could still experiment with Griezmann down the middle, or perhaps target a younger and cheaper forward to add to the team’s attack.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za