Report: Lionel Messi, Neymar rejected Manchester City summer transfer from Barcelona

Manchester City have perhaps the strongest squad in the Premier League this season, but they could have one of the best of all time had they signed one or two megastars.

According to a report from The Sun, Pep Guardiola's new team made contact with the agents of Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Neymar looking to strike a deal for one or even both in the summer transfer window. After three conversations with each player, City heard a clear negative answer and pulled out of the negotiations. Guardiola then turned his attention to other targets (allegedly), signing Nolito and Leroy Sané instead.

This is of course a rumor a little too hard to believe, but it does make sense. Messi became the greatest footballer in this generation (maybe all-time) thanks to Guardiola, and Neymar is one of the best wing players on Earth, someone who would fit perfectly in the Catalan's tactical system with his incredible speed, dribbling, passing and scoring abilities.

To sign either one of Messi and Neymar would obviously be incredibly expensive, but without a doubt a great investment for any team looking to compete for titles in domestic and continental competitons every season. It's impossible to see them leaving Barça, however, and even though Guardiola has an incredible drawing power and almost every player wants to work with him, Messi and Neymar are too loyal to their club.