Manchester City's plans to sign defender not affected by interest in Lionel Messi

Premier League club favourite to sign Barcelona star, who last week handed in a transfer request

768 - With his appearance against Real Sociedad on March 21, 2021, Lionel Messi became Barcelona's all-time appearance record-holder, overtaking Xavi. He scored twice in Barca's 6-1 win. AFP

LIONEL MESSI'S BARCELONA RECORDS: 6 - Most Copa del Rey finals scored in: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019. Reuters

34 - Most trophies won as a Barcelona player. Reuters

513 - Most matches won with Barcelona. EPA

48 - Most hat-tricks scored in all competitions for Barcelona. EPA

15 - First player to score in 15 consecutive seasons of the UEFA Champions League. AFP

7 - Most Pichichi Trophies (top scorer in La Liga): 2010, 2012–2013, 2017–2020. Reuters

37 - Most opponents scored against in La Liga history. AFP

Only player to be top goalscorer and top assist provider in the same season: (2018–20). EPA

361 - Most La Liga victories. EPA

16 - Most dribbles completed in a UEFA Champions League game. AFP

27 - Most league matches scored in a season (38 games): 2012–13. EPA

19 - Most teams scored against in a season: 2012–13. AFP

75 - Most appearances in the Copa del Rey for Barcelona. AFP

47 - Most goals scored from a free kick in official competitions for Barcelona. Reuters

38 - Most stadiums scored at in La Liga. Reuters

485 - Most La Liga appearances by a foreign player. AFP

150 - First player to reach 150 La Liga assists. AFP

4 - Most Man of the Match awards won in one FIFA World Cup: in 2014. AFP

6 - Only player to score in six different club competitions in a calendar year twice: 2011 and 2015. Reuters

First player ever to score consecutively against all teams in a professional league (2012-2013). EPA

4 - Only player to provide at least one assist in four World Cup tournaments. AFP

13 - Most appearances in the FIFPro World11: (2007–2019). EPA

11 - Most appearances on a video game cover by a football player. AFP

334 - Fastest player ever to reach 300 goals in Europe's top five leagues. AFP

10 - Most Man of the Match awards won in Copa América matches. AP Photo

115 - Most goals scored for a single club in the UEFA Champions League. AFP

435 - Fastest player ever to reach 400 goals in Europe's top five leagues. AFP

5 - Most goals scored in a European Cup/Champions League game, against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012. AFP

110 - Most dribbles completed at the World Cup finals. AFP

123 - Fastest player to reach 100 UEFA Champions League goals. AFP

68 - Most goals scored in the UEFA Champions League group stage. AFP

5 - Only player to provide at least one assist in five Copa América tournaments. AFP

3 - Most UEFA/UEFA.com Goal of the Season awards: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2018–19. AFP

6 - Most Best Player in La Liga awards: 2009–2013; 2015. AFP

12 - Top assist provider in Copa America history. AP Photo

21 - Most goals in CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifiers. AFP

6 - Most Ballons d'Or: 2009–2012; 2015; 2019. AFP

Messi is the only player ever to score in his teens, his 20s, and his 30s at the World Cup. He first scored at the 2006 FIFA World Cup as a 19-year-old in Argentina's 6-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro, then five times in 2014, and once in 2018. AFP

6 - Most FIFA World Player of the Year/Best FIFA Men's Player Awards: 2009–2012; 2015; 2019. AFP

444 - Most goals in La Liga. AFP

50 - goals in a La Liga and European league season. Reuters

8 - Most Champions League hat-tricks. AFP

183 - Most assists in La Liga. AFP

7 - La Liga Best Forward titles ( 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16). AFP

36 - Most hat-tricks in La Liga. AFP

300 - Most recorded assists in football history. AFP

91 - goals in a calendar year (2012) - 79 with Barca (59 in La Liga, 13 in the Champions League, 5 in the Copa del Rey and 2 in the Spanish Super Cup) plus 12 with the Argentina national side.

6 - European Golden Shoes for top scorer in European football. AFP

60 - Only player to score 60+ goals in all competitions in 2 consecutive seasons: (2011–12 and 2012–13). AFP

10 - Only player to score more than 40 goals in 10 consecutive seasons. AFP

79 - Top goalscorer in all club competitions in a calendar year (2012). AFP

21 - Longest goalscoring run in a domestic league: 33 goals in 2012–13. Reuters

7 - Only player to score in seven official competitions in one calendar year: 2015, in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League, Copa America, UEFA Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. Reuters

70 - Argentina all-time top scorer. EPA

27 - Top goalscorer in El Clásico. EPA

Manchester City’s plans to buy another centre-back this summer will not be affected by their interest in Lionel Messi.

City, who have already bought Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake, are keen on Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly as Pep Guardiola looks to give his side more solidity.

But while the sudden availability of Messi, who wants to leave Barcelona, could offer the chance of an unexpected reunion with Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, the Argentine will not come in place of players in other positions.

City’s other targets have been in place for a while and a club who often make signings early in a transfer window did so again when recruiting Ake and Valencia winger Ferran Torres, a replacement for the sold Leroy Sane.

City’s need for another centre-back was underlined when Eric Garcia, whose contract expires in 2021, said he would not sign a new deal and the 19-year-old could be sold this year.

John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi both fell out of favour last season and Guardiola admitted in July that the Englishman could leave the Etihad Stadium this summer.

But while the cost of financing a deal for Messi could be considerable, it will not alter City's other intentions and they will not sacrifice any key players as part of any transfer.

Garcia and Angelino, who has attracted interest from Barcelona, could go to the Camp Nou in part-exchange but City have ruled out letting Bernardo Silva, Gabriel Jesus or Riyad Mahrez move in any kind of swap.

Messi missed Barcelona’s return to training on Monday after requesting a transfer and could have a meeting with the club on Wednesday.

He has a buyout clause of €700 million (Dh3.07 billion), though it is unlikely anyone would pay that for a 33-year-old.