straight to your inbox Manchester City were given another boost in their pursuit of Lionel Messi after the forward failed to show at the Barcelona training ground for tests ahead of pre-season.
Ronald Koeman and the rest of the squad were pictured arriving at the complex on Sunday morning but there was no sign of Messi at his allotted time or for an hour afterwards as the fallout between player and club continues.
City will take this as the clearest sign yet that the 33-year-old has decided to leave, even if such a move raises the chances of the player's departure from the Nou Camp being less than amicable.
The principal dispute is whether Messi can leave on a free transfer, with a clause in his contract that he can be exercised within a.
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