Lionel Messi looks set to leave Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, but a journalist has claimed that Manchester City would have signed him two years ago had they gotten their way.
Back in the summer of 2021 the unthinkable happened when Messi left Barcelona.
His 21-year association with the Spanish giants came to end due to the club’s financial struggles, and he joined Paris Saint-Germain.
However, after a mixed two years and no concrete evidence that he has made PSG better, Messi looks set to move on.
Last week his time in Paris reached a new low, when he was suspended for two weeks by his club for taking an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.
The suspension has since been lifted, but with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s contract set to expire in the summer, it seems unlikely he’ll stay in France.
Things could have turned out differently though. During the chaotic summer of 2021, Messi looked set to reunite with former manager Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
In the end Messi decided to hang fire, and by the time he found out Barcelona would not be renewing his contract, City had already spent £100m on Jack Grealish and could not justify another huge contract.
‘They would have done it’
Speaking on the Ranks FC podcast, transfer expert Dean Jones revealed that City were all in on the superstar.
“When you hear about Messi moving, he’s only 35. You think… Premier League? Do you want to come mate? Come and do a year, just give us one year of Messi over here,” Jones said.
“Newcastle have got loads of money, you’ve got Man City, Pep Guardiola’s over here mate. Just come on, give us one year! It’s never going to happen, we’re never ever going to see Messi in the Premier League.”
Host Jack Collins said: “It was then or nothing, the two years ago when he nearly went to City. That was the make-or-break moment.”
“They would have done it, they would have done it,” added Jones.
Had Guardiola got his way, he would have got the only player in the world he ranks more highly than Phil Foden.
“He [Foden] has everything to become one of the best players,” Pep said of a then 19-year-old Foden in 2019.
“Phil is the most, most, most talented player I have ever seen in my career as a manager.”
A couple of years later, Guardiola amended his statement.
“Well, the best is Messi, first,” he said ahead of the 2021 Champions League final.
“Second, I didn’t meet Leo Messi at 17-years-old like I met Phil [Foden], and at that age, I’ve never seen a player with this potential.”
