---
title: "Manchester City: Fans react as Lionel Messi swap deal talk emerges"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-fans-react-as-lionel-messi-swap-deal-talk-emerges/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Emilio Galantini"
section: "Manchester City Football Club"
published: "2020-11-19T12:10:40Z"
modified: "2020-11-19T12:10:40Z"
---

# Manchester City: Fans react as Lionel Messi swap deal talk emerges

**According to an update by journalist Ian McGarry, via [Man City Xtra](https://twitter.com/City_Xtra/status/1329110201862074370), the Sky Blues are ‘actively pursuing’ a potential swap deal in January as Pep Guardiola’s side aim to capture Barcelona legend Lionel Messi – with wantaway Spanish defender Eric Garcia set to make way.**

Messi, who was heavily linked with a move to City [over the summer](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/aug/26/manchester-city-believe-they-have-a-chance-of-signing-lionel-messi) after his fallout at the Nou Camp, with rumours emerging that he could make his way to the Etihad, may still make the trip to Manchester according to this latest update.

\[freshpress-poll id=”335088″\]

The Argentine superstar’s contract expires at the end of this season, arguably putting Barcelona under pressure to sell him in the winter window unless he puts pen to paper on a new deal.

As it stands, that looks unlikely to happen, with City wanting to take full advantage and offer a maximum [£53.6 million fee plus Garcia](https://twitter.com/City_Xtra/status/1329110201862074370) in an effort to lure him to the Premier League.

Sky Blues fans, as a result, have been going wild over this potentially big update – find all of their best verdicts here.

### City fans go wild for Messi

> GET IN [pic.twitter.com/lUXR7mN3qb](https://t.co/lUXR7mN3qb)
>
> — Maya (@MCFCmaya) [November 18, 2020](https://twitter.com/MCFCmaya/status/1329110595099119619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> This is big
>
> — KingKDB17 (@Kdb17King) [November 18, 2020](https://twitter.com/Kdb17King/status/1329111912366403591?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Madness!!!
>
> — mike cooke (@mikecooke321) [November 18, 2020](https://twitter.com/mikecooke321/status/1329168109358493697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> PLEASEEEE
>
> — Carlos (@CarIosOntiveros) [November 18, 2020](https://twitter.com/CarIosOntiveros/status/1329111309716238336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Perfect for both sides, we get Messi 6 months earlier and Barca save 16 million due to his wages
>
> — Tom (@TomMCFC10) [November 18, 2020](https://twitter.com/TomMCFC10/status/1329113107323621376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> HERE WE GO?? 👀 [@FabrizioRomano](https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [https://t.co/vDTDQIVww4](https://t.co/vDTDQIVww4)
>
> — Khalid (@wodrigo) [November 18, 2020](https://twitter.com/wodrigo/status/1329144831675916293?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

***In other news: Man City have been tipped to sign this 6 foot 2 ‘beast’ as well, find out more [here.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-transfer-rumours/manchester-city-cristiano-ronaldo-tipped-to-sign-for-sky-blues-by-andy-townsend/)***