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Forget the chase for Lionel Messi, Manchester City are quietly courting the heir to his throne

Manchester City would clearly love to bring Lionel Messi to the Etihad as part of their short-term quest to win the Champions League in the next three or four years.

But the club are also looking to South America in their long-term planning. They have recently brought in two teenage attacking right-backs -- Yan Couto from Brazil and Peru's Kluiverth Aguilar -- and they are on the verge of bringing in a 17-year-old mini-Messi: Dario Sarmiento of Estudiantes.

- Lowe: Bad blood and 'burofax' between Messi, Barca
- Hunter: Why Barcelona should let Messi go
- Connelly: How would Barca look without Messi?