Lionel Messi trains at Manchester City ahead of Argentina vs Italy friendly

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been training at Manchester City along with his Argentina team-mates.

Argentina have based themselves at the Premier League leaders' City Football Academy ahead of their friendly against Italy at the Etihad Stadium on Friday.

Messi arrived to join up with the rest of the squad on Tuesday and was present at a training session open to media in the afternoon.

Also present but not participating was City striker Sergio Aguero, who has been sidelined with a knee injury recently.

Another City player, defender Nicolas Otamendi, was involved along with the likes of Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano and Marcos Rojo.

Messi had previously been linked with a huge transfer move to City to join up with former Barca coach Pep Guardiola in Manchester, though the Argentine forward has since signed a new deal at the Camp Nou to become the highest-paid footballer in history.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.