“I’d run twice as much!” - Manchester City star’s reaction to Lionel Messi transfer rumor comes to light in new book on Pep Guardiola
A new light has been shed on how close Lionel Messi came to reuniting with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City courtesy of Marti Perarnau. The journalist has detailed some behind-the-scenes events that have taken place since Guardiola became Manchester City boss in his new book.
Perarnau is the closest person to Guardiola and excerpts have been released from his new book on the Spanish manager. There, he revealed how Messi almost came to be a Manchester City player after feeling frustrated with life at Barcelona in 2020.
Barcelona had just suffered their worst-ever defeat when they lost 8-2 to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League COVID bubble in 2020. This appeared to be the final straw for Lionel Messi, who sought out his former manager, who had also just suffered elimination at the hands of Olympique Lyonnais in the competition.
The book revealed that Pep Guardiola held extensive talks with Messi in Barcelona, leading both men to believe there was a chance of a reunion that summer. The rumors reached the players, who were preparing for the new season, and caused a buzz.
Sergio Aguero was the first to imply that something was happening on that front, and Bernardo Silva chose to reach out to the manager himself.
"On September 3, a text from Bernardo Silva arrives: 'Is it true about Messi?'
'How would you feel about him coming?'
'I'd run twice as much!’"
The excerpt shows that the Portuguese playmaker was fully anticipating playing alongside the then-33-year-old forward at the Etihad. The move did not happen, however, as Lionel Messi decided to give one more year to Barcelona. When he did eventually leave the club, it was to join PSG in France, Southeast of Pep and his Manchester City team.
Lionel Messi, Cruyff, Guardiola, Xavi: How FC Barcelona treats its legends
FC Barcelona are one of the biggest clubs in Europe, but the club does not have a great reputation in terms of how it treats its legends. An excerpt from the book on Pep Guardiola by Marti Perarnau explains this better in conjunction with events from the 2023-24 season.
Lionel Messi appeared frustrated with the club's deceit and schemes over the years but decided against going public with his grouse. He instead approached another who had been in a similar position in the past, Guardiola, for a way out of the problem.
Similarly, Barcelona handed Xavi the worst possible treatment as manager this year, sacking him only weeks after getting him to stay at the club. It is also believed that Johan Cruyff was pushed out of the club despite his success as player and manager.
The Spanish giants have developed a knack for treating their most loyal servants poorly, and this reputation will continue to grow after what happened with Sergi Roberto. The Spaniard was announced by Hansi Flick as not being a Barcelona player anymore even before the club confirmed it, indicating a lack of respect from the manager.