MANCHESTER: Manchester City are reported to believe they can sign Lionel Messi if the striker decides to leave Barcelona after being humiliated 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League yesterday.

The 33-year-old found his life getting tougher at the club lately and his contract expires next summer.

The Daily Mirror reports Manchester City will pay ‘anything’ to lure the player to the Etihad Stadium and reunite with its former manager Pep Guardiola.

They believe that if the player returns with Barcelona’s most successful former manager, it will facilitate the process compared to other teams that are also interested.

Messi was linked with a move away from Barca after a clash with top club management with Inter Milan said to be interested.

After disappointing Roma and Liverpool in the Champions League for the past two seasons, Messi went through the worst night with a Barcelona jersey when he was unable to block Bayern Munich thrashing them in the quarterfinals again.