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Pep Guardiola says a team could match Lionel Messi's £275m buyout clause

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Pep Guardiola thinks someone could activate Lionel Messi's £275m buyout clause and take him away from Barcelona following Neymar's move to PSG

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists a team could match Barcelona's £275m buyout clause for Lionel Messi.

Neymar's record-breaking £200m transfer to Paris Saint-Germain on August 4 has raised questions as to whether it is possible a football club could one day trigger the £275m clause in Messi's deal at the Nou Camp.

Messi featured for Barcelona in their 2-0 win over Real Betis on Sunday but showed signs of frustration, hitting the woodwork three times in the false nine position.

The Argentinian agreed a new contract with Ernesto Valverde's team earlier this summer, which will keep him at the club until 2021, despite ongoing reports that he is unhappy off of the pitch.

Lionel Messi takes a free kick during the La Liga match against Real Betis
Image: Lionel Messi has been with Barcelona since 2004, scoring 320 goals in 289 La Liga appearances

Messi has been with Barcelona since 2004, scoring over 450 goals in all competitions for the Catalans, but has reportedly grown frustrated following the departure of team-mate Neymar to PSG.

And Manchester City boss Guardiola, who won 14 trophies with the 30-year old at Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, feels it is not impossible a team meets Messi's eye-watering price-tag.

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Watch the video at the top of the page to see Guardiola's response when asked about Messi's buyout clause.

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