According to The Sun, if Lionel Messi were to leave Barcelona, Manchester City would be in pole position to sign him over their local rivals Manchester United.
Here in the Transfer Tavern that news has certainly got people talking, with our City fans dreaming of the prospect of the Argentine captain linking up with his compatriot Sergio Aguero and playing under Pep Guardiola in a team that would surely dominate the Premier League.
The story has only come about because the forward is stalling on signing a deal worth £825,000 a week as he weighs up his options, and despite United feeling they have the cash to compete with their city rivals, they also feel they would be the second best option for the player.
Regardless of all this, our landlord thinks both should just give up on signing him right now and here are the five reasons why…
He likes being at Barcelona
Despite him apparently mulling over this contract he does actually, reportedly, like being at Barcelona – and wants to see his career out there.
Why would he not? It’s arguably the best team in the world in arguably the best league and he is absolutely idolised by the fans there.
There really isn’t any obvious reason why he would want to leave the Nou Camp at any time in the near future.
Stupid wages
If either side sanctioned a move with those wages they’d seriously need their heads looking at.
That Barca would even consider such a huge outlay is stupid, and you get the feeling that the two Manchester clubs would fork out even more just to bring him in.
For that kind of money you could genuinely get eight top class footballers and pay their wages and, as good as Messi is, he can’t do the job of that many people on the pitch.
Age
Messi is 29 at the moment and with you not envisaging Barca letting him go in January, if they do at all, he’ll be 30 by the time next season starts.
Whilst that isn’t a terrible age, particularly of a player of his standard, you could argue his best days are in fact behind him and signing the Argentine could prove nothing more than a publicity stunt to sell shirts.
It’s a risk both clubs would seriously have to weigh up.
Nothing in Europe compared to Barcelona
United aren’t even in the Champions League this season, and face a real fight to be in it for next year – whilst City are hardly up there with the European elite, despite having Guardiola in charge.
Why on earth would Messi leave Barcelona when he knows they’ll nearly always be favourites for the biggest competition of all and swap it for perhaps making a semi-final with a good run or mixing it in the Europa League?
Simple answer – he would not.
Change of squad dynamic
Whilst Messi does seem like a pretty humble player you don’t get to the standing he is at in the game without making sure you’re the main man.
He’s already wound up the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Barcelona in insisting he is top dog and any threat of that at City or United, two clubs full of egos, could cause an implosion at both clubs.
He’s not what you’d call disruptive but the natural talent of the player demands you do things his way.
