Lionel Messi - v7

[Porque]

On the contrary, if City win the CL this year, than signing Messi is useless. They are the best in the world, doing what they are doing, why would you need Messi? City don't seem interested to sign very big names. They are invested into pleasing Pep for as much as possible. Pep, despite everything he might be saying, doesn't fancy Messi at this point imo.

I was thinking that and was going to post as such, that it would be just down to making their brand explode even more. How they would have to take a well functioning 11 and lose a bit of that to accommodate Messi.

But then I realised it is Messi we are talking about, who has 28 goals and 11 assists playing in a team who are either out of their prime or not reached their prime, with a manager who is levels below Pep, and a fitness level way below Citys. When I factored all that in, then sure you are going to lose a Bernardo Silva at False 9, but then you are getting a motivated Lionel "friggin" Messi surrounded by the fitness levels of NandroPeps. And for that, I think they will go up another level sporting wise too.

 

[Morten]

On the contrary, if City win the CL this year, then signing Messi is useless. They are the best in the world, doing what they are doing, why would you need Messi? City don't seem interested to sign very big names. They are invested in pleasing Pep as much as possible. Pep, despite everything he might be saying, doesn't fancy Messi at this point imo. Especially if they win CL this season.

Also, just on the player-level of things, KDB just renewed his contract, Messi would take up his space and become the main playmaker pretty much.

Dont see the need for him in that role, considering KDB is among the best playmakers around already, and younger.

 

[serghei]

It would make their brand bigger, but City for some reason aren't as desperate to artificially improve their visibility and attractiveness. PSG are the obnoxious type desperate to be relevant as quickly as possible, hence past signings like Beckham for example. City seam to have an approach similar to Abramovich's Chelsea since 2004. More of a standard path of becoming a big name by taking things step by step and dominating teams with the football they play.

 

[JamDav1982]

City may take him but if they did it wouldnt be a footballing decision in my opinion.

It would be more a case of 'now the CL is won lets focus on brand' ahead of purely what is on the park.

They could still win more clearly but risk and dont think signing a 34 year old on huge wages to a team that could have just won the treble would be a footballing decision they would take purely based on that.

 

[Porque]

To be honest I thought the rumours of Barcelona offering a 10 year deal, with two years playing and then playing in the US while remaining brand ambassador are suspect and illogical. That is a City Group kind of deal with their MLS team.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

These clubs should stop fecking about, and start to make decisive steps by phasing out the old players. Madrid vs Chelsea looked a mismatch physically. The Madrid from 3-4 years ago would've handled them with ease.

This this this. We are stuck with old players and old philosophies.

 

[Rassvet]

If only that went in...would have been one of his best ever goals

 

[CatalinR10]

If that shot went in it would have been a Puskas winner.


Team is letting him down again as usual.

 

[sickstar]

If only that went in...would have been one of his best ever goals

I was looking for comment on that run. Crazy run!

 

[FCMessi]

Messi the only threat.

what to expect when Koeman use full backs to simulate wingers.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

If only that went in...would have been one of his best ever goals

RWould have been a really nice goal

 

[ArtistCatalunya]

Needs a forward or a winger to support him.

 

[hardyboy]

That was going in. Oblak's fingertips saved it from going in.

 

[Rassvet]

one man team

 

[pregra]

Best player on the pitch by a mile. Sad to see the dross around him.