Messi joining Man City is now inevitable – Sinclair

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:47 CDT
• 5 min read

Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona for Man City is now ‘inevitable’ after Pep Guardiola’s contract renewal, says Trevor Sinclair.

The Argentine came close to leaving Barcelona in the summer after becoming disillusioned with life both on and off the pitch.

Things reached boiling point when he requested to leave the club after the heavy 8-2 Champions League defeat against Bayern.

Barca refused, insisting his release clause would have to be paid, which led to Messi eventually agreeing to say.

When it seemed like he would leave, Man City were the team leading the chase to sign him, as they are one of only a handful of clubs who could afford his stratospheric wages.

The prospect of a move to Manchester hasn’t went away, though, and former City winger Sinclair reckons he’ll definitely make the switch now that Guardiola is staying.

“For me, you look at what has gone on with him signing a new two-year contract, there are rumours Kevin De Bruyne is going to sign a new contract… I think Messi is inevitable,” he told talkSPORT.

Messi’s Honours:

Competition	Wins with Barcelona
La Liga	10
Champions League	4
Copa del Rey	6
Supercopa de Espana	8
UEFA Super Cup	3
Club World Cup	3

“I can’t see anything other than that. And I look at the club I supported, ‘little old Manchester City’, signing the best player in the world and possibly winning the Champions League.

“He is too young to go back to Argentina, and I don’t think there is any other club where they have the right manager in place where Messi would go in and feel comfortable under that manager.

“I feel it is inevitable it is going to happen… and I can’t wait for it to happen!”

Guardiola’s previous contract ran out this summer, but despite protracted negotiations he eventually signed a new deal to remain as City manager, citing “unfinished business” as his reason for sticking around.