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Messi : Expensive Mascot or Game Changer?

By David Crook

The covers of newspapers inform on Argentinian forward Lionel Messi's wish to leave FC Barcelona, on August 26, 2020, in Barcelona. - Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi told Barcelona he wants to leave -- on a free transfer -- in a "bombshell" fax yesterday that is expected to spark a legal battle over a buy-out clause worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Signalling the end of an era at Barcelona, where Messi is the record scorer and has won four Champions League titles, the disgruntled Argentine wants to terminate his contract "unilaterally" by triggering a release clause, a source told AFP. (Photo by Pau BARRENA / AFP) (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)
The covers of newspapers inform on Argentinian forward Lionel Messi's wish to leave FC Barcelona, on August 26, 2020, in Barcelona. - Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi told Barcelona he wants to leave -- on a free transfer -- in a "bombshell" fax yesterday that is expected to spark a legal battle over a buy-out clause worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Signalling the end of an era at Barcelona, where Messi is the record scorer and has won four Champions League titles, the disgruntled Argentine wants to terminate his contract "unilaterally" by triggering a release clause, a source told AFP. (Photo by Pau BARRENA / AFP) (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images) /
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As a Manchester City fan for over 50 years, I thought we had reached the jackpot when the Sheikh Monsour takeover was completed but maybe the signing of Messi would top even that.

There is a lot of negativity around in the media concerning Manchester City, most of it occuring since we managed to link recruitment and coaching to value for money by becoming serial winners. But that level of noise is about to amplify a thousand fold, because we are about to sign the best player of all time – Lionel Messi.

The bitter tears of rival supporters can be heard already, supported by their cheerleaders and clickbait merchants in the media. In fact, it is already being written that Messi is “past it” and something of a busted flush.

City are portrayed as State Owned and supported by obscene levels of oil money. In fact much of the discussion in the media surrounds how City will scam FFP to achieve the purchase.

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What no one is writing about is how the best English Team in the last decade is in prime position to sign the worlds best player and showcase them in the Premier League – for the benefit of all clubs.

No one is mentioning that City have been so well run for so long, that they are now in the position where the close relationship between Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi may help close the deal.

This in effect potentially reunites the worlds most attacking coach with the worlds most attacking player.

Unfortunately though rival fans are full of jealousy. The thought of Messi playing at smaller clubs like Wolves or even Man Utd, rather than making the fans grateful seems to be filling them with rage.

The reality is that the spectacle of Messi in a City shirt is the kind of thought that makes me feel romantic about football. It is exactly the kind of dream we have all had since we were kids and which has driven our fandom. This is fantasy football writ large, like a real life football manager simulation game.

Of course, Messi would be a figurehead for the City behind which we could try and attract some of his 166 million instagram followers to increase our own commercial revenues. Our sponsors would be buoyed by his endorsement and our brand exposure would increase exponentially.

City could make the kind of commercial leap that could ordinarily take a generation to achieve, elevating us from the 5th most valuable club in the football into hitherto unkown areas.

But the purchase of Messi would not be just as some kind of commercial mascot, it would be to achieve even greater dominance on the pitch.

Last season City struggled on the pitch in key moments, often to break down massed ranks of defences. We spent  last year trying to pass our way through, often to no avail.

Messi offers us a very different solution. He will dribble through those massed ranks and will see us awarded more penalties than even United can muster.

He offers attacking alternatives and solutions. Welcome to no striker and a false 9 – Messi – operating where he wants.

The chance of this signing happening is enough to make me salivate. Messi is a game changer for us both on and off the field. Let us hope the deal is sorted soon and I can go and buy a City shirt with 10 Messi on the back.

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