Pellegrini refuses to comment on Lionel Messi rumours

Andy Hampson 09:14 28/11/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Linked to England: Lionel Messi.

    Manuel Pellegrini has refused to discuss fresh rumours linking Manchester City with Lionel Messi.

    After successive defeats, City boss Pellegrini insists the clash with Southampton is his priority, not fuelling speculation the club are preparing to make an audacious £800,000-per-week (Dh4.4m) offer for the Barcelona superstar.

    And he will have to make do without Joe Hart for that game, after confirming the England goalkeeper will be out for around 10 days with a hamstring injury.

    On the positive side, David Silva and Wilfried Bony are available again as City look to bounce back from last week’s Premier League mauling by Liverpool and Wednesday’s Champions League loss at Juventus.

    Asked about Messi, Pellegrini said: “I don’t talk about rumours. I think every manager in the world would like Lionel Messi.”

    When pressed further, Pellegrini – who was similarly reluctant to talk about reports linking Pep Guardiola with his job – said simply: “I think we must win against Southampton.”

    City have slipped to third after their 4-1 hammering by Liverpool but with top two Leicester and Manchester United playing each other, they have a chance to make up ground this weekend.

    The loss of Hart, who has been in fine form this season, is undoubtedly a blow but Pellegrini has confidence in his replacement Willy Caballero.

    Pellegrini said: “I think he will be around 10 days out. Fortunately it is not a very serious injury but it is a muscle injury so it is important for him to recover well.

    “But I never complain about players who are injured. That is why we have a squad. We lost Joe in a very good moment but it is what happens. I trust a lot in Willy Caballero. I am sure he will have a good performance in these games.”

    Southampton are without a key player in the shape of striker Graziano Pelle but boss Ronaldo Koeman has backed Shane Long to produce in the Italian’s absence, Long will lead the line as 14-goal Pelle is banned after picking up five bookings, and has his chance to stake a claim for a starting role.

    “You’ll always miss a player that regularly starts,” said Koeman. “But we can certainly cope, if we couldn’t I would be doing something wrong, because we’re only talking about one player in the squad.

    “Shane’s a different player, with different qualities but also a very dangerous front player. Our style will be the same, that we try to play football, to build up from the back, but of course in direct play it needs to be changed a little bit.”

    Recommended