Manchester City have had some of the best players in the world represent the club over the past decade.
However, one player who City haven’t been able to sign previously is Lionel Messi.
After leaving his boyhood club – Barcelona – back in 2021, the attacker had a two-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain before then joining his current club, Inter Miami, in the 2023 summer transfer window.
Interestingly, City accidentally made a bid for Messi back in 2008 after their Abu Dhabi takeover.
With eight Ballon d’Or’s to his name, the 37-year-old is and has been one of the greatest players in the world for a long time.
Now though, Messi has named one current figure at the Etihad Stadium as being someone who has had a big impact on his illustrious career.
Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona (L) walks as Josep Guardiola manager of FC Barcelona looks on during a Barcelona training session prior to the UEFA Ch...
Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
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Lionel Messi highlights ‘incredible’ Pep Guardiola impact
In a recent interview with Mundo Deportivo, Messi was asked who had the biggest impact on him during his time playing for Barcelona, to which he gave this response.
He said: “I think there are two who had a great impact on me for different reasons. Pep [Guardiola], because I had him as a coach for many years and we achieved incredible things that we would never have imagined.
“And Ronaldinho, because the way he welcomed me, how he helped me, was very useful to me in my first moments in the first team.”
Messi’s record under Guardiola
Guardiola spent four years in charge of Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, during which he won multiple titles including two Champions Leagues and three La Liga trophies.
Lionel Messi Appearances Goals Assists
Pep Guardiola 219 211 94
As well as having Messi in his side at the Spanish club, Guardiola had other La Masia stars such as Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets at his disposal.
Since joining the Manchester club, the £378k-a-week manager has guided the Blues to a plethora of trophies such as six Premier League titles and a Champions League.
Back in 2020, Guardiola came close to signing Messi for City, although a move never materialised, much to the detriment of the club and the Premier League.
With Messi now pinpointing Guardiola as someone who had a big impact on him, this should further highlight how much of an influential and significant manager he is in terms of helping the Argentine blossom into one of the greatest players of all time.
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