Barcelona captain Lionel Messi is on the verge of moving to Manchester City, after a disappointing season for him at the Camp Nou. But this is not the first time that Messi has been seduced by the English giant.
It was said that in 2017, Messi was very close to joining the Manchester Blues, in a deal that reached the figure of 286 million euros, plus an additional 57 million euros for accepting the offer.
But the six-time Golden Ball winner had turned down that offer in the end.
And now, three years later, the Argentine superstar has reportedly agreed to join his former coach Pep Guardiola at the Etihad, after announcing to Barcelona that he will leave the club this summer.
In an interview for TyC Sports in 2018, Messi had said that he had not thought about moving to City, where his close friend, Sergio Aguero, also plays.
“Of course you think about other leagues, like the Premier League, but when the time comes to make a decision it is very difficult to leave Barcelona. “I will not go to Manchester City,” Messi said two years ago.
After Messi had extended his contract in 2017 until 2021, City had admitted that the talks were over.
Now, however, his move to the Etihad is a real possibility.
As a condition to join City, Messi has requested that Pep Guardiola remain at the club after 2021.
