Barcelona Blog
Pep Guardiola believes he has the player he can thrive by playing Lionel Messi at Manchester City.
Guardiola’s comments come as Messi’s future is once again in question. The World Cup winner initially looked set to stay with PSG beyond this summer, when his initial two-year contract expires.
L’Equipe reports that Messi is now leaning towards leaving the French capital at the end of the season, two years after he replaced the Camp Nou with the Parc des Princes. Thanks to his relationship with the City boss, the Etihad Stadium is often touted as a potential destination for the 35-year-old.
Guardiola made it clear that the £100m signing of Grealish meant Messi was not on their minds in 2021 and whether that changed this time remains to be seen. Messi’s father moved to rule out one possible destination. He told Spanish newspaper Sport that an emotional return to Barcelona is unlikely.
Jorge explained last week: “I don’t think Leo will play for Barcelona again. Conditions are not met. We have not spoken to [club president] Joan Laporta and there is no offer on the table.
A move to Saudi Arabia or the US was discussed, with Messi admitting that “everything has changed” after finally ending his long wait to lift the World Cup in Qatar last year.
He said, “I always thank God. I knew he was going to give me the World Cup, I don’t know, I just felt it. Fortunately, he gave me what we had dreamed of so much.” “Fortunately, it finally happened. Since that day everything has changed for me. Now we can say that.”
Guardiola finds the player who can play Messi
England international Phil Foden has been in and out of City’s squad since returning from the World Cup. A combination of injuries and the good form of Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez mean he has started just three Premier League matches in 2023.
However, after an impressive display during the disappointing draw with Nottingham Forest, the team looked more regular. This could come with a change of situation in the middle of the week, as the English Premier League champions face off against German Leipzig in the first leg of the Champions League final price.
City are making this trip without influential Kevin De Bruyne, who is out through injury. But Guardiola believes Foden could play a more central role and compares what he did at City to what Messi would do in Barcelona teams.
Guardiola explained: “He can play there, and I still feel he is still young. Some maturity to understand what’s going on in the middle, to read what’s going on.”
He added, “When you play [on the wing] you move on the right side, you do this kind of thing, in the middle a lot of things happen and you have to read what is happening to respond properly. And he’s still young. The skills he can do, for sure.”
And he continued: “The work he did in Nottingham, such as shooting and placing balls for Erling [Haaland], is the same as Messi’s position when attacking at that period, it is perfect for Phil. Phil is good at doing that, in the middle, in the right as Kevin.”
And he continued: “But it is not just that, sometimes you have to read when to leave the ball on the left, when to take positions, and when to fall. Sometimes when you’re playing outside it’s easier to do things like this but with time he’ll do it. It is important that he plays four or five positions as I have said many times.
Source: Mirror
