Lionel Messi took just three minutes to score on his return from injury
LONDON, United Kingdom, Oct 19 – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says Lionel Messi could yet end up playing in England but hopes the Argentine finishes his career at Barcelona.
Arguably the best player in the world, Messi was instrumental when Barcelona won three La Liga and two Champions League titles under Guardiola between 2008 and 2012.
The two will be on opposite sides on Wednesday when Guardiola’s team face the Catalan giants in Spain in what could be a potentially blockbuster tie in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Guardiola told reporters at the Nou Camp on Tuesday: “My greatest wish is for him to finish his career here. So he can play many years here, because this is the best place for him to stay.
“But eventually, one day, the kid may decide to play elsewhere. Maybe because he wants his sons to learn English, or to live a new experience, like it has happened to many of us in the past. That is a possibility.”
However, Guardiola insists that if Messi were to decide to play elsewhere it won’t necessarily mean that he will join City.
Guardiola added: “If one day he decides to do so, and I wish it won’t happen, but if it happens there will be a list of four, five people and clubs wanting to sign him.
“But you know who is going to decide that? It will be he. It won’t be me, if I want to sign him, or anybody else. It will be the decision of Leo Messi.”
