The 2020 Messi transfer that almost happened: Insights from Guardiola’s new biography
Lionel Messi was very close to joining Manchester City from Barcelona because of the Pep factor in 2020. Unfortunately, the move did not light up and all the answers to your questions are given in detail in the upcoming book The Pep Revelation: Inside Manchester City by Martin Perarnanu.
As per Daily Mail, a member of the book revealed that it all began when crestfallen Messi and Pep wanted to find a way to spark and rejuvenate their respective careers, after forgetful seasons.
Continuous quarter-final exits in the Champions League, especially the Lyon defeat left the Spanish coach disappointed, while a complete 8-2 humiliation under the hands of Bayern Munch in the quarters that year, brought Messi down. This incident produced an instant reaction from Messi connecting with national teammate and friend Sergio Aguero to know how long Pep has left according to his contract.
“Something big might be happening. Leo’s just asked me how long Pep has left on his contract,”
Pep was unaware of the message for hours, as he was traveling back from Lisbon and once landed the Argentine replied
“Hi, Pep, how are you?”
The next day Guardiola and La Pulga caught up and had a six-and-a-half-hour conversation on the next possible steps. Moreover, the treatment of Barcelona left Messi disappointed, hinting a move to Manchester City was on the cards.
The urge to re-unite was high and the duo wanted to make things happen after their successful time at Barcelona from 2008 to 2012.
But things took a different turn and Lionel Messi continued his stay at Camp Nou, before moving to Paris-Saint Germain in 2022, moving to his current club Inter Miami in 2023, later.
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Inside Messi and Guardiola’s talks on the Manchester City move
The inside information of Messi and Guardiola’s discussions on the forward’s potential transfer to Manchester City is given in detail in Martin Perarnanu’s upcoming book.
The coach has enjoyed some light moments with the player saying “It’s raining a lot in Manchester”. He also added that they train a lot at the club which the ex- Barcelona start did not have any objection to.
“And I still give long tactical talks. Maybe you’ll get bored.”
“I’ll cope. I can cope with anything you throw at me,”
This reunion with Messi left the City boss hoping that success was within the grasp despite both aging since their time at Barca. The conversations were:
“Leo, we’re both much older than we were. Maybe we won’t get on now.”
“Pep, I just want the chance to do great things, to feel like I’m ready to smash it again.“
There was a high possibility of a contract extension if Messi signed according to the former Barcelona coach. With father Jorge Messi and agent Ferran Soriana spearheading the talks and negotiations in 2020 with one year left in his contract at Blaugrans, things seemed very positive.
However, eventually, things did not go as planned and the famous number 10 stayed in the Catalan club. Martin Perarnanu mentioned in the book that the prospective move brought joy to the City squad as Messi was joining them.
The snippets revealed that Bernardo Silva would run “twice as much to assist the 8 times Ballon d’Or winner if he would don the blue of Manchester. Finally, the move did not bear fruit and the reunion was not meant to happen although they did find success eventually.
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