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Lionel Messi wants Manchester City star at Barcelona over Antoine Griezmann

By Atharva Khadilkar

TOPSHOT - France's forward Antoine Griezmann (L) vies with Argentina's forward Lionel Messi during the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between France and Argentina at the Kazan Arena in Kazan on June 30, 2018. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADS (Photo credit should read BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP/Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - France's forward Antoine Griezmann (L) vies with Argentina's forward Lionel Messi during the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between France and Argentina at the Kazan Arena in Kazan on June 30, 2018. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADS (Photo credit should read BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Lionel Messi has asked Barcelona to shop at Manchester City instead of spending 120 million euros on Antoine Griezmann during the summer.

Since Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann announced that he would be leaving the club, he has been linked with some prominent teams from Europe, most particularly Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Barcelona. That being said, Catalonia is the place that is being tipped to be the forward’s new home and through many sources.

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Barcelona have already started prodromal negotiations for the World Cup winner and continue to be keen on a transfer for Antoine Griezmann. Currently he has a release clause of 200 million euros in the Wanda Metropolitano, but that amount is set to decrease to 120 million from the 1st of July, as per an agreement in the player’s deal.

Griezmann has been tipped to be Luis Suarez’s successor, but Lionel Messi and several mainstays at the Camp Nou are not in much favour of a move for the France international. Firstly, Griezmann would be earning an exorbitant salary, secondly he is not a young player and has only three or four prime years left and finally, the way he rejected Barca has not gone down well.

Thus, Lionel Messi has recommended to Barcelona that they look at Manchester City forward Leroy Sane as an alternate to Antoine Griezmann, as per Sportskeeda. The biggest advantage with Sane is his age, but the fact that he can play on the left wing is another bonus. Griezmann can play on the flanks but his gameplay is visibly impeded.

Philippe Coutinho’s inevitable departure and Ousmane Dembele’s hilt in form means that the Blaugrana needs a left winger and Sane’s attributes perfectly fit the bill. In addition to that, he is a proven lad in the Premier League with quite good statistics that would only better when he plays with the generous as well as lethal Lionel Messi.

The emergence of Bernardo Silva this season under Pep Guardiola’s system has seen the Germany international fall out of favour in the Citizens’ line-up. Leroy’s age is a factor due to which he cannot afford to be hanging at a club as a substitute and hence, the Camp Nou would be the best possible destination for him given how well things are going in there.

Next. Lionel Messi labelled as a "betrayer" by Barcelona regular. dark

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