Lionel Messi’s Secret Texts to Pep Guardiola Revealed: The Argentine Superstar’s Close Call with Manchester City
The world was left wondering what could have been when Lionel Messi almost joined Manchester City in 2020. The Argentine superstar’s texts to Pep Guardiola have now been revealed, offering a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes dealings that almost saw Messi don the City blue.
The extracts, published in a new book, show how close Messi was to leaving Barcelona for Manchester City. The 34-year-old had grown tired of the club’s failure to win major trophies, and a reunion with his former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola seemed like the perfect solution.
The Texts
The story begins on August 17, 2020, when Messi sent Guardiola a simple five-word text: "Hi Pep: how are you?" The timing was significant, as Messi had just suffered another Champions League humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich.
The book reveals that Messi’s dad, Jorge, had been in contact with Manchester City’s chief executive Ferran Soriano, who asked Guardiola to meet with his son. The meeting lasted six hours, with Messi expressing his desire to join City and leave his unhappy memories at Barcelona behind.
Pep’s Response
Guardiola’s response was characteristically thoughtful and tactful. He told Messi, "We train hard and you do know that it rains a lot in Manchester?" Messi, ever the professional, replied, "Doesn’t bother me. I’m ready for hard work."
A Reunion That Wasn’t Meant to Be
Despite the closeness of the relationship, Messi ultimately decided not to join Manchester City. His dad wanted to avoid a legal dispute with Barcelona, and the Argentine superstar eventually signed a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain.
What Could Have Been
The what-ifs are endless. Would Messi have been the missing piece in Manchester City’s Champions League puzzle? Would he have formed a deadly partnership with Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero?
The Book’s Claims
The book, ‘The Pep Revolution’, also reveals that Guardiola was not interested in signing Cristiano Ronaldo in 2021. According to author Marti Perarnau, "How could Ronaldo fit into the precision machine the Catalan has painstakingly built at City?"
The Takeaway
Lionel Messi’s secret texts to Pep Guardiola offer a fascinating glimpse into the world of top-class football. The what-ifs are endless, but one thing is certain – Manchester City came close to signing the world’s greatest player.
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