Lionel Messi to Manchester City: Behind the scenes of Pep Guardiola's transfer meeting and what was said

Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer of all time. Pep Guardiola is the greatest manager to ever sit on the bench. The Spaniard's rise from Barcelona B head coach to first-team coach in 2008 marked the beginning of a formidable partnership that was simply unfair to the rest of the world.

Under an innovative manager, the young Messi – already hailed as a generational talent – flourished and won every trophy possible at the club during their four years together.

The prospect of the two Blaugrana legends reuniting seemed almost inconceivable, especially in the north of England. Yet that is exactly what nearly happened in the summer of 2020, when Messi was on the verge of signing for Manchester City.

If Messi's move to PSG the following year sent shockwaves through the football world, joining the world's best league and coach would have triggered a supernova. Here's the story of how a simple WhatsApp message and a six-hour conversation almost led to one of the most important transfers of this century.

Citing an excerpt from a new book about Guardiola’s reign at the Etihad by Marti Perarnau – titled ‘The Pep Revolution’ – the Daily Mail reports that Messi’s close friend and Argentina team-mate Sergio Aguero was the catalyst for something potentially revolutionary. The then-City forward sent a WhatsApp message to his team-mates at the end of the 2019/20 season, writing: “Something big could happen. Leo just asked me how much time Pep has left.”

Guardiola, still reeling from a disappointing campaign that saw his team lose the Premier League title to Liverpool and lose to Lyon in the Champions League, initially paid no attention to Agüero's message. Later, as he landed in Barcelona on a private jet, he saw a new message on his phone from the man himself: “Hi Pep, how are you?” The two met the following day, at noon on August 18, 2020, at Guardiola's home.

In 2016, Messi, facing tax fraud charges in Spain and a possible 21-month jail term, had flirted with the idea of ​​joining City. His father and representative Jorge had started the process and arranged a meeting with Guardiola, but Messi did not seem particularly interested in a move to England.

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

During the six-hour interview with the City manager, it was a more mature and confident Messi who led the conversation with Guardiola. Fed up with the dishonesty and betrayal from the Barcelona hierarchy, he spoke as if he knew exactly what he wanted.

The City boss also discovered that Messi is well-versed in aspects of football beyond Spain, discussing Liverpool, Bayern, Antonio Conte, Thomas Tuchel, Kevin De Bruyne, City's new signings and tactical concepts among other topics.

Guardiola tried to understand Messi's state of mind and whether he was really determined to leave. “You know it rains a lot in Manchester?” the manager asked him. “We train hard in Manchester,” Pep added, but Messi shrugged, determined: “I don't mind. I'm ready to work hard.”

Pep added: “And I keep giving long tactical speeches. Maybe you'll get bored…” prompting the little Argentinian to reply: “I'll get through it, I can deal with anything you throw at me.”

“Leo, we're both a lot older than we were before. Maybe we won't get along now.” Messi, who was undeterred, said: “Pep, I just want the chance to do big things, to feel ready to crush it all again.”

The two players finally parted ways at 6:30pm, with a warm embrace, both far more optimistic about the possibility of a potential transfer. Guardiola even began to plan how to use Messi upon his return to Manchester, believing he would be more effective near the centre circle while City's other stars battled for possession.

But just as other City players were starting to get excited, negotiations broke down when Messi's father Jorge agreed to a new one-year contract with Barcelona. Pep and Leo's dream of a reunion was shattered.

Guardiola did not dwell on the past, however, and came back strongly the following season to claim his third Premier League title. Messi would later regret his decision, shedding tears after being forced to leave Barcelona due to the club's financial difficulties, and joining PSG in what he later admitted was the worst period of his career.