Pep Guardiola clears Messi - Man city rumours: 'What I want for Messi is to finish his career at Barca'

The Man City boss says he has huge gratitude for Barca which explains his unwillingness to comment more on the Messi transfer saga.

He insists he doesn't know what Messi thinks of his future.

"Lionel Messi is a Barcelona player. As a person, I have huge gratitude for what Barca did for me as a player in the academy and as a manager," Pep Guardiola has just said at a press conference, quoted by Manchester City's official Twitter.

On Messi, the City boss added: "What I want is for him to finish his career there. I don’t know what is in his mind. We have only incredible targets in our mind."

The rumours on Leo Messi's potential move to the Etihad Stadium have intensified following Pep's new deal with City.