This is the only reason I have a niggle it could still have legs... That thought process off they need his wage off the books and were playing for a huge offer to clear debt. But no offer came, best thing City could do now is nothing. Wait a few weeks then put in a £40m bid to test the water. Let them sweat, let Messi show up to training where the media will see him unhappy with his head down etc. Negotiate up to £80m then walk away, in Jan if he’s not joined offer £20m going up to £40m then walk away. But then I still have a doubt they’d even do business with us now, I can see PSG offering €200m and it being accepted, we’ll not match that for a 33 year old in his last year of a contract.