10/08/2026
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Lionel Messi came incredibly close to joining the Premier League.
Back in 2020, Messi had become deeply unhappy at Barcelona. He felt betrayed by club president Josep Maria Bartomeu and believed the club was in serious decline.
After Barcelonaโs humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich, Messi reportedly held a four-hour meeting with Pep Guardiola at the City managerโs home. They discussed a potential move to Manchester City, including how Guardiola would use him and whether the club could make the transfer happen.
Messi formally asked to leave Barcelona, but the club insisted that his โฌ700 million release clause still applied. Rather than enter into a legal battle with the club he loved, Messi reluctantly stayed for another season.
Things only got worse at Barรงa, and in 2021 the clubโs financial problems meant they were unable to register a new contract for him. With City having already spent ยฃ100 million on Jack Grealish and focusing their attention on Harry Kane, Messi instead joined Paris Saint-Germain.
Cristiano Ronaldo then returned to Manchester United later that summerโmeaning the football world could have been treated to a Messi-Ronaldo Manchester derby.
City subsequently won four consecutive Premier League titles and completed a historic treble. Messi won two Ligue 1 titles in France, but his time at PSG was widely viewed as underwhelming after he failed to deliver the clubโs first Champions League trophy.
Imagine what might have happened if City had managed to bring the GOAT to Premier League
Leo Messi Premier League