- Messi is yet to extend his contract with Barca which expires next summer.
- Man City remain the favourites to land the 33-year-old if he leaves Camp Nou.
- Emile Mpenza, however, believes the Citizens should solve their defensive issues first while Messi’s arrival will only cause an overcrowd in Guardiola’s squad.
“I think that with all the defensive problems Guardiola has, he doesn’t really need someone like Messi,” former Man City striker Emile Mpenza said, as quoted by the MEN.
“He should sort the leaky defence out first. Kompany has left a huge hole at the heart of the defence and City are yet to find the stability they had when Kompany was running the backline.
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“It’s a tall order to fill Vincent’s shoes and what’s the point of signing Messi with all the issues they have at the back?
“They have enough players in his position like Mahrez and Aguero. If they sign Messi that would be too many players for the same position and cause problems.
“I believe that he will link up with Pep Guardiola again at some point in his career, but not at City itself but rather for their partner club New York City FC.
“Guardiola has managed in three of the best European leagues such as La Liga, the Premier League and Bundesliga with only Serie A missing. For me, MLS is his next stop and he will take Messi with him there.”
Messi’s transfer request was rejected by Barcelona in the summer. The 33-year-old, however, is yet to extend his contract which expires next summer with the Citizens as the frontrunners to land him on a free transfer.
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