Manchester City: Lionel Messi could complete a sensational reunion with Pep Guardiola
Lionel Messi is on the verge of a shocking exit from Barcelona.
As Lionel Messi “communicates” his desire to leave FC Barcelona this summer, Manchester City have been tipped as the most likely destination for the Argentine wizard, as per various news outlets.
Messi, for the better part of two decades, has been the centrepiece of Barcelona, winning a plethora of silverware and individual accolades. It is very hard to comprehend the 33-year-old donning the colours of any other institution other than the Blaugranas.
Having last lifted the Champions League in 2015, Messi has often criticised the Barcelona board by questioning their ambitions, having made a few debatable decisions in the transfer market. The constant passive tussle between the aforementioned factions had already begun the process of a rift in relations.
The situation peaked this summer when Bayern Munich handed Barcelona the worst humiliation in the club’s history with an 8-2 win in the Champions League quarter-final. Messi, by this point, had already considered the situation at Camp Nou reaching a point of no return.
Lionel Messi has chosen Manchester City as his next club, reports @marcelobechler
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 26, 2020
The man who broke the story, on why a 'Last Dance' with Pep could be possible 🗣️
On the back of a humbling by Bayern, now the champions of Europe, the murmurs began that Messi is considering his future away from his boyhood club. But, those speculations turned into stark reality when the Argentina international communicated his desire to seek exit officially.
Since the outbreak of this news, several European heavyweights have been linked with a move for Lionel Messi. Amid those, Manchester City are touted to be the frontrunners to secure the services of one of the most talented players in the history of the game.
"Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi spoke on the phone last week to discuss the possibility of the Barcelona forward making a move to Manchester City this summer.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. (ESPN via B/R Football)"
It is understood that Lionel Messi has requested that Barcelona allows him to leave on a free transfer by triggering a loyalty clause, which quashes his release clause worth 700 million euros. However, there is a twist in this story with Barcelona trying to convince Messi to stay at Camp Nou and are willing to pass a no-confidence motion against under-fire president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Also, it is understood that the deadline for triggering the loyalty clause was May 31, putting the player and board members at odds.
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The fans have not taken the decision lightly and have cordoned Barcelona’s headquarters with ongoing protests in an attempt to retain the services of Lionel Messi.
Barcelona bosses are already planning a few replacements should such a situation arise. Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus are mentioned across media outlets who could be used as a makeweight in a deal allowing Messi to rejoin Pep Guardiola since his Catalan’s coaching days at the Camp Nou.