Together they ruled the world at Barcelona – but Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insists he has never thought about reuniting with Lionel Messi.

Recent reports emanating from Spain suggested that City were prepared to spend up t0 250 million euros luring Messi away from the Nou Camp, which had been fiercely denied in Manchester.

Guardiola parted ways with Messi and Barcelona in 2012, and went on to manage Bayern Munich before guiding the Sky Blues to the Premier League throne last season.

The former Blaugrana midfielder insists that not once did he ask Bayern or City to capture the Argentine’s services – and claims he has never once wanted Messi to leave Catalonia.

“When I left Barcelona and went to Bayern Munich and Manchester City I never asked Messi to come here,” said Guardiola ahead of City’s game against Southampton on Sunday. “I never went to both clubs and said I want this player.

“I know how important he is for Barcelona. I never made the first step to say I want this player. Never.

“I said a thousand times I want him to stay at Barcelona. I want that.”