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Manchester City Plotting Move For Rising Barcelona Starlet, Club Will Only Sign Him On A Free

Manchester City Plotting Move For Rising Barcelona Starlet, Club Will Only Sign Him On A Free

Manchester City target Ilaix Moriba has dismissed claims that he has demanded a significant pay rise amid contract talks with Barcelona.

Manchester City are preparing a sensational swoop for Ilaix Moriba next summer amid growing tensions over his future at Barcelona.

Moriba, 18, has been involved in an ongoing heated dispute with the Spanish club over contract talks.

The Guinean-born midfielder, who was dropped from the Barcelona B team earlier this month, will see his current deal with the La Liga club expire in 2022.

Moriba has reportedly wanted a hefty pay rise as part of a new Barcelona deal, but the club are already facing a financial crisis amid their staggering £1.15bn debt.

Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman is an admirer of the City target, but he has advised him that “money is not the most important thing.”

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PA

According to Mundo Deportivo, City are prepared to offer Moriba a route out of the Camp Nou next summer.

The Spanish newspaper added that City manager Pep Guardiola is an admirer of the Barcelona player.

However, the defending Premier League champions will only sign Moriba on a free transfer next summer when his Barcelona contract expires.

PA

Moriba, who has also been linked with Tottenham, broke his silence on social media by staunchly defending himself over reports that he wants a pay rise at Barcelona.

The Barcelona midfielder has played for Spain Under-17s, but he is preparing to switch national allegiances in order to play for the Guinea national team.

Moriba came through La Masia and claimed his time at Barcelona’s famed academy helped him to “mature.”

He told the club’s official website: “At La Masia, you have [no] choice but to mature. They help and guide you a lot.

“But a lot of things depend on you -- rigour, constancy, work and everything is taught from a young age.

“Since I was little, I have been coming to Camp Nou to watch the team and to now have played in the stadium with these players is just incredible.”

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Barcelona, Football, La Liga, Manchester City, Premier League