Lionel Messi’s contract at Barcelona will expire next month and reports have indicated the Argentine will sign a new deal at the Camp Nou.
Until that happens, he will continue to be linked with other clubs, and among them are Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.
The 33-year-old publicly expressed his desire to leave the La Liga side last summer and the Citizens were then reportedly said to be a firm contender to sign him.
Messi, however, made a U-turn and decided to continue with the Catalan club, at least until the end of this season.
Pep Guardiola’s father Valentí has given an interview to Radio Villa Trinidad’s program Super Deportivo Radio, and was asked whether his son would love to have Messi at the Etihad.
Responding to that, Guardiola Sr said: “Truth to be told I do not know. I think there is no club in the world that does not want him.
“I have seen Messi play at the age of 12 or 13 for the first time in the mini stadium and I was already amazed at how he played for Barcelona B. He was extraordinary at that level. There are few [players like] Messi. I think Pep would not be displeased to have him at Manchester City.”
The former Bayern Munich manager has treated Messi like his son. When giving his take on this topic, Valentí made it clear the City boss would avoid wanting to hurt Barcelona by taking Messi away from the Camp Nou.
“My son [and] Messi, he has always had him [Messi] as high as he would like to be, but today he is at Barcelona and “Josep” has “Barca” in his heart and he would never want to hurt Barcelona [by taking Messi away from them],” Valentí explained.
Pep started his coaching career at Barcelona and his father admitted he would like to see the current City manager return to the Spanish club.
When asked if he would like his son to manage any national team, Valentí said: “No. I am nobody to say what has to be, because he will be about to turn 50 and he knows what is good for him and what he should not do.
“To return to Barcelona as a coach or as a person who gives advice, he did not rule it out, but that he goes to the Spanish national team, I doubt it.”
