Man City offered to triple Messi's wages - Al Mubarak reveals unsuccessful bid for Barca star
Big-spending City were linked with moves for the likes of Kaka and Messi for many years, before assembling a record-breaking Premier League outfit under Pep Guardiola.
But Al Mubarak confirmed that there was truth to reports City were hoping to recruit five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, with former Barca boss Guardiola tasked with speaking to the Argentinian.
However, even a hefty pay rise would not prove tempting enough for Messi to depart Camp Nou.
"We asked Guardiola to talk to [Messi]," Al Mubarak told a news conference in the United Arab Emirates, having identified the Barca star as the one player he wished he had signed.
2 - Cristiano Ronaldo scored 450 goals in his Real Madrid career – Lionel Messi scored 472 goals during the time they played together in Spain. Age. pic.twitter.com/jhSCaJgtqD
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) August 29, 2018
"We offered to triple the salary he has at Barcelona, but he did not accept it."
Messi is Barcelona's record goalscorer and has played a part in four Champions League successes since coming through the club's La Masia academy.
The 31-year-old has scored 11 goals in 11 games in all competitions so far this season.