Pep Guardiola: One Day, Messi May Want To Play Elsewhere
Reuters / Kai Pfaffenbach
Pep Guardiola spoke about Lionel Messi’s future ahead of his Champions League match against Barcelona, claiming that the Argentine may leave Camp Nou one day.
Pep also admitted that should Messi decide to end his Barcelona career, he would be one of the men trying to secure his signature.
Guardiola, who spent 5 years in Barcelona, was the man who kick-started Lionel Messi’s rise to footballing fame by playing him in a false 9 formation.
During his time in Spain, Guardiola was able to guide the Messi-driven side to 3 La Liga titles and 2 Champions League trophies, making him one of the most sought after managers in Europe.
However, Guardiola left Barcelona in 2012, and after a 3-year spell with Bayern Munich, the Spanish tactician has now taken charge at Manchester City.
Guardiola is now set to face-off against his former side in the UEFA Champions League Group Stage tie, as Manchester City travel to Spain on Wednesday night.
Pep couldn’t help but speak about Messi, insisting the Barcelona are the right club for him, although admitting that the Argentine could be interested in starting a new life elsewhere.
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“I didn’t call Leo Messi,” said Guardiola. “Because my greatest wish is for him to finish his career here.
“So he can play many years here because this is the best place for him to stay.
“But eventually, one day, the kid may decide to play elsewhere. Maybe because he wants his sons to learn English, or to live a new experience like it has happened to many of us in the past. That is a possibility.
“But if one day he decides to do so, and I wish it won’t happen, but if it happens there will be a list of four, five people and clubs wanting to sign him.
“But you know who is going to decide that? It will be he. It won’t be me, if I want to sign him, or anybody else. It will be the decision of Leo Messi.”
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