Inter Miami’s forward, Lionel Messi, made an unsuccessful attempt to join Manchester City in the summer of 2020, following his publicized transfer request from Barcelona.
According to details revealed in Marti Perarnau’s latest book, ‘God Save Pep,’ Messi expressed his desire to move to Manchester City during a WhatsApp conversation with fellow footballer Sergio Aguero.
During the exchange, Messi sought information about Guardiola’s contract tenure at the Etihad Stadium, prompting a direct conversation between the Argentine star and Pep Guardiola, which culminated in a face-to-face meeting at the coach’s residence in Barcelona.
Dialogue during the meeting reportedly involved Guardiola outlining the demanding training regimen and the city’s infamously wet climate in Manchester. Nevertheless, Messi remained resolute in his decision to depart from Barcelona.
Ultimately, Messi’s effort to secure a move to Manchester City was in vain, as he was unable to legally terminate his contract due to missing the stipulated deadline for the transfer request. Barcelona also stood firm on their €700m release clause for the player.
