Daily Schmankerl: Messi called Pep about City move, Thiago’s heartfelt farewells, Löw still rules out Müller, Sané & Süle back in squad

Messi and Pep have already discussed a move to City (ESPN)

Sources have confirmed to ESPN that Lionel Messi talked to Pep Guardiola over the phone last week about leaving FC Barcelona for Manchester City. The catch:

ESPN reported Monday that City have been crunching the numbers to work out if they would be able to sign Messi without breaching Financial Fair Play rules.

City have deemed the operation impossible in previous transfer windows, but several sources have confirmed that they have grown more optimistic following Guardiola’s talk with Messi last week.

Just kidding: there is no catch! We already know FFP is a joke. It goes without saying that the big state-backed clubs are best poised to afford Messi, and City is the slickest of the bunch. It sounds as if coach and erstwhile player would like a reunion.

Thiago’s teary farewell (Bild)

Bild reports that Thiago bade Bayern a teary farewell at the club’s party on Monday at the Allianz Arena. Thiago came with his wife and family and hugged his teammates. Bild says he gave Robert Lewandowski an especially heartfelt farewell.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Bild that Bayern is waiting to hear from Liverpool FC. “We have always read a lot about Liverpool, but they haven’t gotten in touch yet,” Rummenigge said.

The Bayern CEO painted a wistful picture of Thiago’s time at the function: “We still had the appointment with our employees, and the whole family was there and strolled around the place with great nostalgia, I’d almost say. That looked very much like farewell, as if he had decided.”

The next step is for the buying club to get in touch. Rummenigge said, “Now it’s up to the club that he has chose to approach FC Bayern, since he is under contract one more year.”

DFB announces Germany squad: Süle and Sané called back up

Germany coach Joachim Löw announced his squad for upcoming games against Spain and Switzerland on September 3 and 6.

Leroy Sané and Niklas Süle will be back. Sané stayed in Munich after his transfer from Manchester City, while Süle sat out most of the Champions League tournament after making his comeback from injury. Both are raring to go.

Their teammates Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, and Serge Gnabry will get time off, as will Marcel Halstenberg and Lukas Klostermann of RB Leipzig (but not Timo Werner, who moved to Chelsea).

Since Neuer will be rested and Marc-André Ter Stegen is injured, Löw called up Oliver Baumann as third keeper. He also called up midfielder Florian Neuhaus and defender Robin Gosens for the first time.

Elsewhere in Europe, Poland has give Robert Lewandowski a break, but Austria called up David Alaba for games against Norway and Rumania — in which we hope he does not play.

Löw rules out a comeback for Müller and Boateng (yet again) (Bild)

After players you have unceremoniously cut start and win a Champions League final to complete the second historic treble for their club, it stands to reason that someone might ask you whether you might reconsider cutting those players from your national team.

Well, not Jogi Löw. Löw said, “Both players delivered a very good performance, and they showed how important they are for this team [i.e. Bayern]. However, we decided after the World Cup to go this way with other players. We want to give them space and time to develop. As a national coach, you look forward more than club coaches do.”

Löw continued by arguing he could hypothetically chance his mind, “I’m definitely someone who can correct a mistake if I make one. Should a given moment come where the situation is perhaps completely different, I’m the last person who would not correct a decision. But at the current time, I see no reason. I see players with very much potential at these positions. As things look now, this way is good.”

Bayern Babies and PSG play for the Champions League U8

From baby Lewandowski to baby Thilo Kehrer, to Mbappé who looks exactly the same, and the frightening creature that is Thomas Müller at 0:44, this is genius.

James Rodriguez in talks with Everton

Bonus trolling