Lionel Messi admires Manchester City, claims Pablo Zabaleta

Lionel Messi and Pablo Zabaleta

Manchester City right-back Pablo Zabaleta claims that his Argentine teammate and four-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi is a keen follower of the Citizens.

Zabaleta, who has sort of become a cult hero at the Etihad, also added that Messi was very pleased for him when Sheikh Mansour took over at City.

Speaking to The Mirror, Zabaleta said: “I remember when we were in Barcelona, we were very close friends. We had known each other for a number of years – I was just starting out at Espanyol and Lionel was at Barca.

“When I signed for City, I think two days later the news broke that Sheikh Mansour had bought the club and Lionel always recalls that I joined at such a fantastic time.

“He asked me a lot about City, but I couldn’t tell him much because I didn’t know much myself. It’s something we often talk about, plus the fact that I’m still here.”

Sergio Aguero, City’s star striker, is also known to be one of Messi’s best friends in footballing circles.