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Lionel Messi Pep Guardiola 2020-21Getty/Goal
Daniel Edwards

Guardiola says Messi is 'strongest of all' amid Manchester City transfer talk

Manchester City
L. Messi
Barcelona
Premier League
LaLiga
Transfers

The Argentine did not feature in Barcelona's last game of the season and is yet to confirm whether he will stay or go this summer

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has restated his admiration for Lionel Messi, as speculation concerning a potential reunion for the pair at Etihad Stadium continues to mount.

The Barcelona star has long been tipped as a potential signing for Guardiola, who knows the Argentine well from their time together at Camp Nou. 

Messi is still yet to confirm his future at Barca, although the club retains hope he will not leave this summer. 

What was said? 

"He's very strong, the strongest. Beyond his quality, it's his mentality, his head," Guardiola said of Messi in a Twitch interview alongside former Italy stars Christian Vieri, Antonio Cassano and Daniele Adani.

"In four years at Barcelona, we played a lot of games in training and he didn't lose even one. If he had lost, he would've left. He has that competitive mentality that only four or five players in history have, they have something different.

Next matches
MCI

MCI

Premier League

31 Oct 2026

BHA

BHA

BAR

BAR

LaLiga

31 Oct 2026

ALA

ALA

"We all knew that Messi was the best, but then there were six or seven others who were strong and others who didn't play because the others were so strong."

The bigger picture

While Messi's desire to leave Camp Nou last summer in the wake of his side's 8-2 Champions League thrashing to Bayern Munich was denied, he has made few sounds about what he will do from June onwards. 

In a recent interview with Argentine newspaper Ole he praised the young Barca squad and dubbed the Copa del Rey victory this season a "turning point", while stating his intention to win more titles - although he did not specify where.

Should he decide to leave City appears a natural alternative for the 33-year-old, due to his relationship with Guardiola and the club's capacity to meet his astronomic wages. 

Coach Ronald Koeman hopes he will remain at Camp Nou. 

"Hopefully he will continue here for many years," Koeman told reporters when asked if Messi will still be there next season. "He is a unique player. He is a 10 as a professional. If he does not stay, Barca will have to train other players and seek effectiveness in other footballers.

"Leo has scored 30 goals this season, with him the team has come much further."

Further reading 

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