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Manchester City closing in on Lionel Messi after Barcelona confession

By Nikhil Venkat Sai

BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 02: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks on during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and Levante UD at Camp Nou on February 02, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 02: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks on during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and Levante UD at Camp Nou on February 02, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) /
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Manchester City have been heavily touted as the next destination for Lionel Messi ever since he made the decision to leave Barcelona.

In the summer window, Lionel Messi shocked the world when he requested the Barcelona board to allow him to leave the club for free. Manchester City have been touted as his next probable destination since then. There are a number of reasons behind Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain being linked to the Argentine but before we get into the specifics, as per Diario as, Barcelona presidential candidate Emili Rousaud has disclosed that Lionel Messi will have no choice but to leave if the 33-year-old doesn’t accept a pay-cut.

Barcelona are currently in the middle of one of their worst phases. The club seems to be struggling not only on the pitch but off it as well. The failed transfers of Philippe Coutinho, and Antoine Griezmann over the last three years have really hurt the club’s finances. In case that wasn’t enough, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has hit the Blaugrana’s war-chest with an impact significant enough to force the players into taking pay-cuts.

Lionel Messi is the highest earner of the squad and Barcelona have done well over the past few years to be able to afford his wages. However, times have changed and now the Argentine might just need to take a pay-cut if he does have any intention of staying at Camp Nou. This entire situation has just made matters worse for the Blaugrana. Barcelona are desperate to keep their best player but all the things are going against them.

So, How does this help Manchester City?

It is a fact that Manchester City is one of the very few clubs that hasn’t felt that the rigid shockwaves of the COVID-19 pandemic to an extent that would leave them reeling. Their finances have been well managed and the Sky Blues are in a well-placed position to be able to afford Lionel Messi’s wages. The signings carried out in the summer window and the contract extensions offered to Kevin de Bruyne and Pep Guardiola are a testament to that statement.

With the winter window fast approaching, it is fair to say that Manchester City are in the pole position to land Lionel Messi for the next season. With the Argentine keen on making a club departure, a Messi-Guardiola reunion might be on the cards.

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