Lionel Messi to Man City: Inside Pep Guardiola transfer meeting and what was said

Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer to ever walk the earth. Pep Guardiola is the greatest managerial mind to ever take to the dugout. The Spaniard’s ascension from head coach of Barcelona B to the first team in 2008 was the start of a formidable partnership which was simply unfair to the rest of the world.

Under the innovative manager, a young Messi – already hailed as a generational talent – flourished and claimed every club trophy possible during their four-year stint together.

The prospect of the two Blaugrana legends reuniting seemed almost inconceivable – especially in the north of England. Yet, that’s precisely what nearly happened in the summer of 2020 as Messi came close to signing for Manchester City.

While Messi’s actual move to PSG in the following year sent tremors through the football world, joining the world’s top league and manager would have sparked a supernova. This is the tale of how a single WhatsApp message and a six-hour conversation nearly led to one of the most significant transfers of this century.

Citing an extract from a new book on Guardiola’s Etihad reign by Marti Perarnau – titled ‘The Pep Revolution’ – the Daily Mail reports that Sergio Aguero, Messi’s close friend and Argentina team-mate, was the trigger of something potentially ground-breaking. The then-City striker dropped a bombshell WhatsApp message to his team-mates at the end of the 2019/20 season, writing: “Something big might be happening. Leo’s just asked me how long Pep has on his contract.”

Guardiola, still reeling from a disheartening campaign that saw his side surrender the Premier League title to Liverpool and face defeat to Lyon in the Champions League, initially thought nothing of Aguero’s message. Later, as he landed in Barcelona in a private jet, he saw a new message on his phone from the man himself – “Hi Pep, how are you?”. The pair met the following day – at noon on 18 August 2020 – at Guardiola’s house.

In 2016, Messi under a shroud of tax fraud accusations in Spain and facing a 21-month prison sentence, had flirted with the idea of joining City. His father and representative Jorge set the wheels in motion and set up a meeting with Guardiola, but Messi appeared to lack real interest in a move to England.

Four years later, Messi’s attitude was very different due to his anger towards Barcelona. A humiliating 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League just days earlier had confirmed it was indeed time to leave his home of two decades.

During a six-hour talk with the City manager, a more mature and now self-confident Messi led the conversation with Guardiola. Sick of dishonesty and betrayal at the hands of the Barcelona hierarchy, he spoke as though he knew exactly what he wanted.

The City boss also discovered that Messi was knowledgeable about aspects of football beyond Spain, discussing Liverpool, Bayern, Antonio Conte, Thomas Tuchel, Kevin De Bruyne, City’s new signings and tactical concepts amongst other topics.

Guardiola sought to understand Messi’s headspace and whether he was truly set on a move. “You do know that it rains a lot in Manchester?” the manager asked. “We train hard in Manchester,” Pep added, only for a determined Messi to shrug: “Doesn’t bother me. I’m ready for hard work.”

Pep went on to say: “And I still give long tactical talks. Maybe you’ll get bored…” leading the diminutive Argentine to reply: “I’ll cope, I can cope with anything you throw at me.”

“Leo, we’re both much older than we were. Maybe we won’t get on now.” Again undeterred, Messi said: “Pep, I just want the chance to do great things, to feel like I’m ready to smash it again.”

The duo finally parted ways with a warm hug at 6.30pm, both far more hopeful about the likelihood of a potential transfer. Guardiola even began to plan how to use Messi upon his return to Manchester, believing he would be most effective near the centre circle while City’s other stars battled for possession.

But just as the rest of the City players began to get excited, negotiations fell through as Messi’s father Jorge agreed a new one-year deal with Barcelona. The dream of a reunion between Pep and Leo was shattered.

Guardiola, however, did not dwell on the past, coming back with a vengeance the following season to clinch his third Premier League title. Messi would later regret his decision, shedding tears after being forced out of Barcelona due to the club’s financial difficulties, and joining PSG in what he later confessed was the worst period of his career.