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As there are always little media hints that he could decide to up and leave Barca . I was having a think and occurred to me if he did decide on a change we'd have to be the first choice and perhaps the only choice for him. I just cant see where else he would go!

Madrid - Forget about it.
Anywhere else in Spain - Why?
Bayern - Sure he'd prefer to try himself in the PL and would a German team pay silly money?
Chelsea - Not as fashionable as they once were.
Rags - Lol.
Arsenal, Liverpool etc.. No.

Then theres the only team left... Loads of Spanish and Argentine players (his mates).. ambition.. Yaya.. Pellers.. blah blah blah.

Yes a somewhat pointless thread but we can dream!

Monaco, PSG?

I honestly believe were he to decide to leave, we'd be the most likely destination. The Premier League would probably be the most challenging and we're one of the few who could take on the fee and wages. It would probably be between us and Chelsea, so hopefully Mourinho stays there for a while. Although he may prefer Liverpool for their history and I'm sure he was a boyhood fan

That said, I don't expect him to leave Barca. Although whilst their directors keep slagging him off in public, who knows.

Slim wrote:Monaco, PSG?

I just cant see it. Thats french.

I believe we are constantly on the trail of signing Messi ( there are just too many off the record comments recounted amongst City fans for me not to believe some of them). It doesn't matter a shit what we want unless Messi decides he wants to leave though.
If he does, we will be at the front of the queue, & big big favourites.

Barca's legal problems make this a bit more likely imo.

Lee_R wrote:

Slim wrote:Monaco, PSG?

I just cant see it. Thats french.

Falcao, ZLATAN, Messi?

I could see him playing in France

twosips wrote:I could see him playing in France

Not if he's got anything about him.

Messi playing in France would be like playing in the U17s, just no challenge whatsoever.

Ted Hughes wrote:

twosips wrote:I could see him playing in France

Not if he's got anything about him.

Messi playing in France would be like playing in the U17s, just no challenge whatsoever.

He plays in a league that has enjoyed a two team dominance for a lot of years with all the actual challenge coming from the Champions League. He would be moving into another league where he will be enjoying another two team dominance and all the challenge coming from the Champions League.

Slim wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:

twosips wrote:I could see him playing in France

Not if he's got anything about him.

Messi playing in France would be like playing in the U17s, just no challenge whatsoever.

He plays in a league that has enjoyed a two team dominance for a lot of years with all the actual challenge coming from the Champions League. He would be moving into another league where he will be enjoying another two team dominance and all the challenge coming from the Champions League.

Thats the point.. it wouldnt be much of a change or challenge.

You say he's not coming? What am I going to do with this tat now?

It will be interesting to see which PL club Pep goes to after Bayern?
We have been linked but so to Arsenal, Chelsea and United. Surely it would be a big attraction for Messi to be reunited with Pep?
For me it depends on how FFP restricts our spending in future years.

Plain Speaking wrote:It will be interesting to see which PL club Pep goes to after Bayern?
We have been linked but so to Arsenal, Chelsea and United. Surely it would be a big attraction for Messi to be reunited with Pep?
For me it depends on how FFP restricts our spending in future years.

Pep alone would end up costing us about an extra £10 mil per year I bet.

Plain Speaking wrote:It will be interesting to see which PL club Pep goes to after Bayern?
We have been linked but so to Arsenal, Chelsea and United. Surely it would be a big attraction for Messi to be reunited with Pep?
For me it depends on how FFP restricts our spending in future years.

Messi is probably one of two players currently on the planet where an FFP case could be made - the amount of shirt sales etc worldwide would go a long way towards the cost plus our profile would lift even further.

That was clearly why we wanted Kaka, although that was a bullet dodged.

I certainly think we'd be pushing to sign him, regardless of the cost. Whether we'd get him is a different matter entirely.

Ted Hughes wrote:

twosips wrote:I could see him playing in France

Not if he's got anything about him.

Messi playing in France would be like playing in the U17s, just no challenge whatsoever.

After playing for Barca i don't think he'd really care to be honest...falcao and the likes didn't mind moving to the relatively easy life and he could want that too.

Happy to be wrong though

Slim wrote:
Falcao, ZLATAN, Messi?

Rumours are that Falcao wants out already. Maybe he's realised that just money isn't enough.

For Zlatan, well he's won things in Spain and Italy already and, in his own head, he's the best player the world has seen. This was also probably his last big contract and I think he may have taken the money.

As for Messi, he started his career at Barca and until Pep left, they've been regarded as the best team, so we've no idea what his ambition is, as there was no reason to move. Maybe he'll want the money. Maybe he'll want to play in a team that wins everything. Maybe he'll want to be challenged as a player every week, not just in the CL. Or maybe he'll resolve the differences with Barca and spend a few more years there before finishing his career in Argentina.

Personally, I just hope he's fit for the home leg against them as I wasn't to see him play

I think if Messi wanted to leave Barca, we would have a great chance. Apparently he has always been very interested in City since "the project" started and has a good relationship with Zabaleta and Aguero.

I just don't see it though, I don't think he'll ever leave.

Even if he did some on here would be quick to say hes rubbish after 3 games though.

It would be one of the defining moments in the history of our wonderful club. Will it happen? No idea, but it seems reasonable to think we'd be in contention if he ever moves.

Ted Hughes wrote:
Pep alone would end up costing us about an extra £10 mil per year I bet.

And be worth 6 pts max over another quality manager.

Not worth it at all IMHO.

He has done it all at barca. If he does want to leave I think we would be in with a great shout.