Anyone who has even vaguely followed the world of football in recent years is well aware of names such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. They are also appreciative of the fact that organisations such as Barcelona have enjoyed a string of victories due in no small part to the contributions of individual players. In many ways, Messi was the jewel atop the FCB crown as far back as 2008. However, all good things must eventually come to an end. Not only has Barcelona been plagued by a handful of dismal outings in recent times, but this team has been hit by another massive blow. It has been confirmed that Messi has chosen to seek life elsewhere.
Although some analysts are predicting that he may eventually find his way to teams such as Paris Saint-Germaine or Inter, it is relatively certain that Manchester City is looking to snatch up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. What are some of the reasons why Messi may soon be donning the colours of Man City? Let’s take a look at a handful of compelling arguments.
All About the Manager
It has often been said that a great manager is behind every great player. In this case, there is no doubt that Pep Guardiola played a key role in Messi’s ability to rise to the top of the pack. We need to remember that he was guiding Messi back in his formative years and that the two got along quite well with one another. The same cannot be said for current FCB manager Josep Maria Bartomeu (tensions are said to have been high between the two in recent months).
Furthermore, this appears to be much more than a rumour. It has been leaked that Messi and Guardiola have spoken; a clear indicator that both are looking to move forward in some way, shape or form. This was confirmed by Guardiola when he stated that he would be elated to have Messi as part of Man City.
Financial Concerns
While some teams might need to win it big at a game of blackjack in order to afford this world-class player, Manchester City already has the financial liquidity to make him an attractive offer. The only real question is whether or not Messi might be forced to activate a release clause within his contract said to be worth no less than $700 million dollars (this clause needed to be signed when the document was renewed in 2017). However, Messi claims that this clause will be null by the end of the summer; allowing him to walk away from FCB entirely.
It is no secret that Barcelona has not been performing well recently. Should Messi indeed leave, this team will need to regain its composure if it ever expect to rise to the top of the Champions League once again. However, Manchester City fans could very well walk away as winners from the current situation if all goes as planned. Only time will eventually tell what comes to pass.
