Manchester City have emerged as the bookmakers favourites to secure a sensational deal for Lionel Messi if he leaves Barcelona this summer.
Messi stunned the world of football on Tuesday after handing in a formal transfer request at the Nou Camp so it looks like the Argentinean attacker is looking to end his long-term association with the Catalan club.
The decision was taken after Barcelona were humiliated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League following an 8-2 semi-final defeat and it was the final straw for Messi – who’s relationship with the club has become strained in recent years.
Things are likely to get even worse as a court battle is looming. Messi believes he can activate a clause in his contract that allows him to walk away for FREE this summer but Barca claim the clause expired back in June and are demanding the players £630m release fee is paid.
The situation has got the whole world talking as football fans are deliberating over where Messi will end up if he managed to force a move away from Barcelona this summer. Here we look at the top 3 contenders:
Inter Milan contenders
Inter Milan are perhaps surprisingly being priced as the 7/1 third favourites to sign Messi this summer. The Italians have rich owners who have an ambitious project to turn Inter into a European powerhouse again so no doubt they’d love to lure Messi to Milan.
However, many have doubts about the Argentinean playing in Italy as it’s widely known for it’s tactical and ‘boring’ style of football. A quick look at the Serie A scores from last season shows us there were less goals scored per game in Serie A compared to La Liga or the Premier League so Messi may be reluctant to play in such a tight division.
PSG in the running
Another possible destination for Messi could be Paris Saint-Germain as the French giants have wealthy owners who would love to pair the Argentinean international with Neymar again as they continue to search for Champions League glory.
PSG would throw as much money as possible at Messi to lure him to Paris but there are doubts as to whether he would be prepared to risk his ‘Greatest of all Time’ reputation by seeing out his career in Ligue 1 – which is often referred to as the ‘farmers league’.
Man City favourites
Currently, Manchester City are the 5/6 favourites with the bookmakers to sign Messi and seal a dream reunion with Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium. City have the financial resources available to fund a mega deal and pay the 33-year-old huge wages so it’s no surprise Messi is being tipped for a move to Manchester.
The big question is whether he’d want to play in a physical league like the Premier League and if the South American could cope with the questionable British weather. But from a sporting point of view, a move to City makes a lot of sense.
There is still a strong possibility Messi could be persuaded to stay at Barca for another year but if he does leave the Nou Camp this summer then a move to Manchester City is probably the most likely outcome.
