Manchester City chief concedes defeat in chase for Kylian Mbappe and has his say on Lionel Messi pursuit
Txiki Begiristain says ‘we are out of the race’ for teen star who is set to join PSG and insists Messi will stay at Barcelona
MANCHESTER CITY have admitted defeat in their £150m pursuit of Monaco sensation Kylian Mbappe.
City are one of three clubs - Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are the others - fighting to sign the France forward this summer.
Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain admitted: “We are out of the race - it is impossible to do it with the time remaining.
“It will not happen, it is impossible.”
Mbappe has made it clear to Monaco that he wants to join Ligue 1 rivals PSG.
The forward, who tore City apart in last season's Champions League, will leave Monaco before the transfer deadline.
City were prepared to splash out more than £100m to sign him, but they know his heart is now set on joining the PSG revolution.
The French club are expected to splash out £138m on the 18-year-old.
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Mbappe will form a fearsome partnership with Neymar, who joined PSG from Barca for £198m earlier this month.
Begiristain also ruled out a move for Lionel Messi, whose contract at Barca runs out at the end of this season.
SunSport revealed that the Argentine's father had spoken with Begiristain about the possibility of a bringing him to City.
Messi is said to be stalling on an extension, agreed in July, to stay at Barcelona until 2021.
It was reported that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner wanted to see who Barca sign to replace Neymar.
But Begiristain has now ruled out a swoop, saying: “Messi is staying at Barcelona for sure.”
