Lionel Messi’s decision to leave Barcelona this summer has sent massive shockwaves to the sporting world and every media headlines are now all about where the 6-time Ballon d’Or winner might end up.
Any football enthusiasts that have followed the beautiful game of football for a decade and a half is more acquainted with magical Messi. The memory of every football-loving fan on the planet has had an endless collection of seemingly unthinkable displays in which the 6-time Ballon d’Or winner was able to utilize his feet to perform mesmerizing things that normal people can’t imagine, not to mention execute.
Regardless of whether by any possibility a football fan have been living on another planet – might be a fan from where the Argentine began before showing up at planet Earth and thus unable to bear witness to the marvels Lionel Messi has orchestrated, such person can without much of a stretch ask around.
Running down the wing with the ball glued to his feet, mind-blowing movement at it’s best, great flair and unbelievable goals, breaking records and setting unbelievable feat are what Messi is capable of.
Anyone who has the pleasure or the opportunity of seeing ‘La Pulga‘ shone out mesmerizing performances on the pitch of play, or saw his wizardry display in flesh and blood when he made his debut and when he grew into a man, could have easily foreseen a player that would go down as one of the greatest in the footballing world with his brilliant talent.
With over 16 years, counting from the first day and year he made his debut, Messi has continued to grow in strength and achievement for the club and personally to himself – scoring an astonishing 634 goals and creating 285 assists in 731 appearances for the Spanish giants.
Although there are times when things aren’t going on well for him, that doesn’t stop him from dishing out his best performances on the pitch for the Catalan side.
Sometimes some marriages last till nature calls for it, even with the ups and downs in the union, while on the other hand, some don’t even grow past the first year or month of their union.
However in Messi’s case, since he made his competitive debut, it is safe to say his relationship with Barcelona has birthed a lot of success both on the homefront and in Europe. But then with the situation Barcelona is currently in now, seems as though the union is coming to an end despite having a relationship that has yielded mouthwatering success.
Today, we’ll take a look at 5 reasons why Messi would move to Manchester City
Without mincing words, the reports going around that ‘La Pulga’ wants to leave Barcelona has no doubt put some of the biggest clubs in Europe on the front-burner to sign the Argentine into their respective teams.
In all honesty, it’s must be said that no team in the world won’t love to have the Barcelona man in their ranks. Having said that only three clubs have been linked with the Argentine currently such as Manchester City, Paris Saint Germain, and Inter Milan.
The Argentine is now 33, and to all prospectives clubs wanting him, they shouldn’t expect him to be as agile, strong, and mesmerizing just as he was when he was at peak for the Catalan side.
With his performances this season despite Barcelona losing the league to eternal rival Real Madrid, and also dumped out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich. Lionel Messi was still able to win the ‘Pichichi’, which shows he still has an enormous amount of years to give wherever he ends up, should he leave the four walls of Barcelona.
READ ALSO: 10 Of The Top Admirable Kings Of Football
- Pep Guardiola’s Reunion
It’s no news that clubs have been rumored to be in pole position to secure the services of Messi, should he leave Barcelona.
Before the No 10 would join any team, he would consider some important things before making that decision, and one of those decisions or the first reason he may consider before signing for such a club is the manager in charge. .So in the case of City, they’ve got a man very familiar with Messi at the Etihad Stadium in Pep Guardiola.
According to ‘Thesefootballtimes‘ more than anything else, a football manager thinks about winning, it’s the source of their happiness, their confidence that ultimately keeps them in employment. No manager can quite match Pep Guardiola in this regard, there is nothing more important to the current City boss than winning a football match.
With the statement above, it’s easy to understand why Guardiola took over the managerial position at Barcelona. Pep instantly won the team over with his passion for football, love for the club, and intelligence, as well as his brilliant communication skills with the players which have been the key in his managerial career over the years.
Manchester City is one of the potential clubs who could sign Messi should he leave Barcelona, Messi would likely look at the prospect of him playing for Guardiola once again before he draws the curtain on his illustrious career, not because of anything, but due to how both dominated La Liga and also rule the world of football during his reign at Barcelona.
- Champions League & Well Tailored Project
Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain are no doubt one step ahead in terms of footballing potentials, financial muscles, and players structures ahead of other teams that may want to sign the Barcelona man.
And with the current situation, Barcelona is now, everything is pointing to the direction of Messi leaving.
The Etihad side is synonymous with Pep, under whom the Argentine enjoyed arguably the best moment in his football career. The English side is one of the few clubs in Europe, who has the financial muscles to sign him should he eventually leave the four walls of Barcelona.
The UEFA Champions League has eluded the Catalan side for a long time since they last won it, and with Barcelona’s management and Messi’s aspiration, it’s no news that they harbored the dream of winning the Champions League once again.
Their deep decline has been reflecting and evident on their poor performances in the Champions League recently.
Meanwhile, Guardiola’s City has also been knocking on the Champions League door for a while, but things haven’t fallen in place for them. Perhaps with the addition of Messi into the team, the door might eventually open.
- Catalonia Reunion
With over 16 years in Barcelona, playing for the Catalan side, it is safe to say Messi is of Catalonia than Argentine this doesn’t mean he’s not an Argentine.
With the Director of Football ‘Txiki Begiristain‘ and Chief Executive Officer ‘Ferran Soriano‘ at Manchester City, who are one of the important staff that makes sure things run smoothly at the Etihad, Messi should be rest assured that he is going to familiar terrain.
With City desperately trying to win the Champions League, trying to secure the service of the Argentine would be one sure thing Txiki Begiristain would love to achieve.
Keeping in mind that Messi could help them crack the Champions League code with the avalanche of great players in the team, and with the fact that he would be playing with one of his closest friends ‘Sergio Kun Aguero‘.
If reports are anything to go by, that Pep has spoken to Messi just days before the Barcelona captain sent a ‘Burofax’ to the club informing them that he wants to leave, then that alone it’s a great opportunity for the City’s officials to try and bring Barcelona’s finest player in the history of football to the Etihad Stadium.
However, with the current situation of Messi’s contract, signing him won’t be that easy and more so Begiristain & Soriano wouldn’t want to make a mess with the Barcelona board based on the Catalonia connections.
- Opportunity To Play With More Quality Players
Since Guardiola took over the managerial position at Etihad, he has been blessed with the money bags from Asia.
More so with the signing of Portuguese defender Joao Cancelo’s €65m move to City, which had taken Pep Guardiola’s spending as a manager to €1.307.9 billion in just 11 seasons on the benches of Europe’s elite sides, and more still to come with the way and manner they’ve been regrouping to win back the league from Liverpool come next season.
Pep, the whole of City players and the management would be delighted to have Messi. To make things click for them, the Etihad outfit may have €300m in other to trigger the signing of the Barcelona captain, should he leave and everything goes smoothly between the Barcelona’s camp and City’s camp.
Comparing player for player in Barcelona and City, there is a big disparity in the quality of the players. With no disrespect to Barcelona’s players, only a few of them could actually stroll into the current City team.
As such Messi would keenly look at all of that and perhaps, tend to move to Manchester City, having already accomplished almost everything a footballer would want.
- Opportunity To Play In The EPL
If Messi leaves for Manchester City, no doubt the English Premier League will have more followers and definitely Messi’s fans on their side. More so, the presence of the Barcelona captain in the league would be a great opportunity for the EPL organizer or whoever is in charge of making the league runs smoothly to leverage on his popularity, which would definitely make a lot of business sense for the league.
READ ALSO: No Blemish: 14 Football Stars Who Have Never Been Sent Off
Over the years, the constant talks that the Barcelona captain should move out of his comfort zone, by supposedly Ronaldo’s fans who thought the Argentine may not succeed in other leagues.
With what Messi has achieved over the last 16 years in football, it is quite okay to say Messi has nothing to prove to anybody or fans, but then the joy of seeing him graced the Premier League would definitely gladden the heart of Messi’s fans and the neutrals.
His presence in the Premier League would also lay to rest, all of the talks that Messi should leave his comfort zone and move elsewhere.
With the financial status of Manchester City, they are no doubt one of Europe’s elite clubs that are capable of paying the player’s €50m annual salary. Only time will tell if he would join Manchester City or have a rethink to stay in Barcelona.
Conclusion
With the aforementioned reasons on why Messi would join Manchester City, and not Paris Saint Germain or Inter Milan, it doesn’t mean the other two clubs don’t have the financial muscles to trigger the clause of Messi’s contract.
If we’re to look at the manager’s quality in all of the three clubs, without mincing words Manchester City has arguably the best manager, with no disrespect to the other two managers.
So with the present situation of things at the Nou Camp, we can only wait to see how things would pan out in the end.
