Man City's Bernardo Silva says playing with Lionel Messi would be 'a pleasure'

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Manchester City 's Bernardo Silva has said he would love to play with Lionel Messi amid speculation the Premier League champions could face a mass exodus of their star players.

UEFA hit City with a two-year Champions League ban and a hefty fine which has cast doubt over the futures of their players and manager.

Barcelona are one of the biggest draws in world football and swapping the Etihad for the Nou Camp would offer Silva the rare chance to have played with the Argentine and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The former Monaco man insists it is "complicated" but told SER Catalunya that "of course" he would like to play with Messi.

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"I play with Cristiano in the national team," he added. "And if I played with Messi, being able to say that I played with the best in history would be a pleasure, but it is a complicated matter. At City or in Barca it will be welcome."

But Silva has not been shy in heaping praise on current City boss Pep Guardiola, who has come out defiantly and said he will remain in Manchester whatever the outcome of their appeal against UEFA's sanctions.

"You learn a lot every day," he said. "It is a pleasure and he is undoubtedly one of the best, if not the best, and the results speak for themselves

"Since I arrived two-and-a-half years ago, everything we have achieved here is very much due to Pep so it's a pleasure to have him."

City won't retain their league crown this year but can still scoop a cup treble that includes the Champions League with Real Madrid their last 16 opponents.

But Silva has Los Blancos among the favourites for the competition, alongside Messi's Barcelona and the lavishly assembled PSG side.