The situation reached a boiling point in recent weeks amid Messi's lengthy reluctance to ink a new extension, then with the club suspending him for two weeks on Monday after making an unapproved trip to Saudi Arabia.
Where it all began. Perhaps there's another universe in which Messi had never left the Catalan side, but because of financial debt and the COVID-19 pandemic, Barcelona couldn't afford a new contract and instead let him walk on a free transfer.
One aspect to consider, though, is team fit. Former Barcelona teammate Xavi is now the manager, and his 4-3-3 system isn't exactly geared toward Messi. Messi, who turns 36 in June, nowadays operates best as an attacking midfielder or second striker. The two right wingers are Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha, and the main center forward is Robert Lewandowski.
The one team that would make the most sense is Manchester City, who are managed by Messi's former manager at Barcelona: Pep Guardiola. Guardiola and Messi achieved a great deal together as they revolutionized football via their tiki-taka style, and Guardiola's compact juego de posicion system in Manchester could accommodate Messi.
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