Guardiola responds to claims his new deal could lead Messi to Man City

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Pep Guardiola did little to suggest his contract extension with Manchester City gives them a better chance of signing Lionel Messi.

City were heavily linked with six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi during his contract dispute with Barcelona in the summer. However, the Argentine eventually stayed at Camp Nou.

Manager Guardiola, who this week committed to City until 2023, won the Champions League twice with Messi at Barca. There has since been speculation that they could try to reunite again at City.

But Guardiola said: “I have said a thousand times I would like, as a Barcelona fan, for him to finish his career there.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen in his mind but for now he is a Barcelona player.”

Guardiola, who has won two Premier League titles at City, is not making grand predictions about what he could achieve in his remaining time at the club.

He said: “I’m not thinking much right now about titles. It will be good to do what we have done the last three years but it’s difficult.

“We are thinking week by week to do a good job and we’ll see at the end what we deserve.”

 

Guardiola gives Aguero, Sterling updates

City pair Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling are hoping to prove their fitness for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Tottenham.

Record scorer Aguero has been out for the past month with a hamstring injury and Sterling pulled out of the England squad during the recent international break with a calf problem.

Guardiola said: “Sergio was training this week and Raheem, today was the first training with the team.”

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