Manchester City braced for Barcelona raid

Manchester, England: Manchester City are on red alert for a triple swoop by crisis-hit club Barcelona.

Barca want to take City director of football Txiki Begiristain and chief executive Ferran Soriano back to the Nou Camp to lead the club into a new era.

And if Barca are successful in luring them, they may ultimately look to snatch manager Manuel Pellegrini from the Premier League champions.

The revelations will add extra spice to the Champions League last 16 clash between City and Barca, with the two sides meeting for the first leg at the Etihad Stadium on February 24.

Barca are looking for a new sporting director following the dismissal of Andoni Zubizarreta and assistant Carles Puyol’s decision to quit the club in the wake of his sacking.

The club is currently serving a transfer ban from making transfers and coach Luiz Enrique is also under increasing pressure, following a bitter falling-out with Barca’s star man Lionel Messi, which has threatened to plunge the club into meltdown.