Terrassa (Barcelona), November 25: Barcelona ace Lionel Messi has been recently linked to a move to Premier League leaders Manchester City where his onetime mentor Pep Guardiola is the manager.

The Argentinian forward’s celebrated career at the Catalan club is fretted to be nearing its conclusion, with no confirmed contract extension deals other than mere speculations, as the prevailing deal is set to become obsolete by the end of this year’s campaign.

Messi has been the star man for the Catalans since his debut in 2004, scoring 523 goals and assisting a further 234 strikes in 602 matches.

The 30-year-old were to hit the transfer market for free with a myriad of clubs craving for the world-class talent.

It had been previously affirmed that City are one of the top clubs relentlessly looking to sign the superstar.

However, as per Spanish website Diario Gol, the English giants are backing off from a potential transfer, as Guardiola is reconsidering his decisions about signing the mercurial forward.

The paper declares that the City boss doesn’t want to run into a tussle with his old club and their supporters by swooping the talisman and thus avoid wrecking the likelihoods of his possible return some day.

Further it seems like the duo isn’t truly sharing a sound relationship since the tactician’s departure from Barca. It’s just that the pair remained 'cordial to the media,’ but in reality, are 'cold in person.’

Guardiola spent four successful years as Barca manager between 2008 to 2012, winning 14 trophies along the way.

Since the mercurial manager left Spain in 2012 to coach German giants Bayern Munich, the duo has hardly been on talking terms.

Regardless, even without Messi, Guardiola still has things going his way in the Premier League. The Citizens sit comfortably at the top, still remaining unbeaten, although a fair part of the season is yet to come.

Furthermore, the City gaffer reportedly hasn’t taken his eyes off from Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez just yet. Reports state that he’s preparing a move for the Chilean once again in the upcoming transfer window in January.