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Manchester City are considering signing Lionel Messi from Barcelona according to reports.
With the earth shattering news that the Argentina man wants out of the Catalan region reports have been swirling about a potential reunion for him in Manchester.
Crunching the numbers
The blues have been carefully looking at their finances to see if a major move like this is feasible.
City have been under the microscope since they were initially banned from all competitions for two years.
Despite having that ban overturned the club still suffered financial setbacks as a result being fined €10 million for refusing to cooperate in UEFA’s initial investigation.
The price to get the six-time Ballon d’Or winner would be steep. If a move for Messi were to happen City’s front office may need to sweet talk the board members at Barca to lower the release clause, a clause Messi has asked the club to waive.
Not for sale?
The official stance Barca is taking when it comes to Messi is that he is not sale.
Further to that they say anyone interested in him will be referred to his release clause of €700 million.
If a move for Messi were to happen City’s front office may need to sweet talk the board members at Barca to lower that price.
Messi has reportedly asked that he wants the transfer fee waived but will the club give in to his demands?
Fed up
Messi met with new Barca Manager Ronald Koeman last week.
According to RAC1when the two met Messi told the new coach he sees himself “more out of the club”.
Is it possible Messi has had enough of the club and wants to finish out his career somewhere else?
Familiar faces
One thing Manchester City would have to offer to Messi is familiarity.
First there’s Sergio Aguero, Messi’s countryman and one of his best friends, you would think a reunion might be exactly what the doctor ordered for Messi.
Then of course there’s Pep Guardiola who coached Messi and Barca to two Champions League titles in 2009 and 2011.
Difference Maker
Manchester City is desperate for a European cup.
They’ve captured a number of trophies domestically but the Champions League crown has thus far eluded them.
At 33 Messi is still one of the world’s best players and had the experience that the Blues have been missing on the big stage.
Will his wish be granted?
This is perhaps the €700 million question.
Until recently everything we heard about Messi’s time in the Catalan City was how much he loves it there.
He and his family have lived in the area for the past 20 years and until recently seemed quite content.
The six-time winner of the European Golden Shoe appeared frustrated with the humiliating loss 8-2 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Does Messi want to take on a new challenge at his age and deliver a European Cup to Man City?
Not done spending
The other big question facing Man City is how much of a budget do they still have at this point?
They’ve already been active on the transfer market signing Nathan Ake from Bournemouth and Ferran Torres from Valencia.
Ake and Torres came at a cost of €40 million and €23 million respectively. Can the club make it work financially and add Messi to the fold?
That being said City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has said they will sign more players while the transfer window remains open.
Khaldoon recently said “there are additional players we will be bringing in and we will stick to the plan, obviously within the realities of the market that we live in today.”
Now will the 33-year-old Messi be one of those players? (JSL)
