Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu denies Manchester City launched a sensational bid to prise away Lionel Messi during the summer. Reports in Spain suggested big-spending City had tabled €50million plus striker Mario Balotelli to bring Argentina ace Messi to the Etihad Stadium but Barca had rejected the bid.
However, Bartomeu insists no such offer was made.
He told Sport: "Our policy is not to sell our stars but on this subject it certainly did not (happen)."
