Mikel Arteta sends message to Lionel Messi over Man City move

Lionel Messi is determined to leave Camp Nou this summer.

The 33-year old sent a fax to his club to activate a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave Camp Nou on a free transfer this summer.

Manchester City are leading the race to sign the Argentine forward and a move to the Etihad would see Messi reunited with former manager Pep Guardiola.

Arteta started his playing career at Barcelona and he would be disheartened to see Messi leave his boyhood club but believes that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner would make a great impact in the Premier League.  

‘He has been linked everywhere, you know?,’ said Arteta.

‘He has more clubs than any other player in history after him. I’ve been a Barcelona fan since I was young and it’s always sad to see, who in my opinion has been the best player in football history, leave that football club. Let’s see what happens, if he comes to England we’re all going to enjoy it.

‘It doesn’t matter. It’s good for football. We’ll have to find a way, if it’s not here we might find him in the Champions League, you never know. You want the best players in your league and for me that’s the best thing, to have the most competitive league in the world.

‘The Premier League has always had that. The times with Ronaldo, I played against him and it was great because it raises the level of every individual and every team as well.’

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