For now, Lionel Messi looks all set to leave Barcelona when his contract rns out naturally in the summer, with elite clubs Paris St-Germain and Manchester City reportedly leading the race for his signature. The Barca superstar has allegedly told his former Blaugrana teammate he plans to leave Camp Nou to join PSG in the summer when the season ends, according to reports coming out of Brazil.
Messi, 33, had shown his determination to exit Barca when he submitted a shock transfer request at the Nou Camp back in August but made a U-turn to stay back in the end to avoid taking the club to the courts. The Argentine striker, whose current deal is set to expire at the end of June, agreed to stay and see out the final 10 months of his contract.
Various parties have been tipped to snap him up on a free transfer, with Manchester City boss and his former mentor, Pep Guardiola reportedly keen to bring his former star to the Premier League despite his public sentiments wishing for his former protégé to finish his career at Camp Nou.
David Beckham’s Inter Miami franchise is also another party behind the scenes courting Messi, given that he’s mentioned having a desire for his children to be educated in the US and also happens to own a luxury $5million apartment in the city .
However, Brazilian journalist Thiago Asmar alleges the Barca legend has instead set his sights on a potential move to elitist Parisien club Paris Saint-Germain this summer, with Messi being understood to have been in contact with former strike partner Neymar, telling the Brazil international over WhatsApp that he plans to swap Barcelona for Paris at the end of the season. It’s believed he was initially looking to reunite with Guardiola in Manchester, only to have a change of mind after holding regular conversations with Neymar.
Messi’s supposed intention now is to sign for PSG once his Barca contract expires this summer, albeit City could adroitly flip the coin again by coming in with the right whopper of an offer.
Guardiola had enjoyed tremendous success with Messi at Barca, putting together a two-time Champions League winning side which is widely regarded as one of the best in history.
Nevertheless, Messi also cherishes the fondest memories of his time playing alongside Neymar when they part of the awesome Messi-Suarez-Neymar triumvirate that drove fear into all their rivals.
The trio got their hands on two Spanish titles and the Champions League together, before Neymar decided to leave for PSG in 2017.