Barcelona talisman, Lionel Messi has been linked with a move to Manchester City, but Manchester United midfielder, Juan Mata wants him to join the Red Devils and not their rivals.
The future of Messi remains in doubt at Camp Nou as his contract is set to expire by June 2021 and there is no talk of renewal. This is following his declared intention to leave the club last summer after tendering a transfer request- the move was blocked by the club and La Liga.
Come January 1, about three weeks to Barcelona’s election, Messi will be able to negotiate with other interested clubs and could leave Camp Nou where he started as a 13-year-old.
![](https://i0.wp.com/futballnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CADIZ-BARCA1.jpg?resize=696%2C393&ssl=1)
Knowing what could happen in the next summer transfer, the Red Devils midfielder does not want to see the Barcelona superstar make his way to Etihad Stadium next year.
Will Messi leave Barcelona in their worst form as he is linked with Manchester City?
Messi could be heading for the exit door in the summer window. But if the club remains in this present form and continues to get unfavourable results, it means the Argentine will be leaving the club in its worst position. The last time the Blaugrana club found in this position was 30 years ago.
Although Barca has secured Champions League knockout passage, Ronald Koeman’s side has not been doing well domestically. Their recent 2-1 loss at Cadiz showed that more is still needed to be done to turnaround their domestic form.
Manchester City, Inter, and Paris Saint-Germain will try to lure the superstar away from Catalonia next year.
Messsiiiiii, almost notches the equalizer!!!! 😱 pic.twitter.com/z5peo7SCYL
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 5, 2020
Moreover, the latest comment made by current Camp Nou interim president Carles Tusquets is not helping matters as well. Tusqets insisted that the club would be better off financially without Messi.
City has been mooted as the most likely next destination for Messi due to Pep Guardiola’s presence at Etihad Stadium. But the Spaniard has urged his protege to stay put and end his career at Camp Nou.
Should in case Messi decides to switch allegiance, Mata would much prefer to see a man regarded as one of the best players in history make his way to Old Trafford.
“Well I hope not – I hope not for the betterment of my club.I don’t know what will happen, but I hope he doesn’t go there. If he comes to Manchester I hope it’s to my club and not the other.
“There were rumours, for example, that Cristiano Ronaldo might come back to Manchester in the future. One of the things that I realised in professional football is that you should focus on what you can control and forget about what you cannot,” the Manchester United midfielder said while speaking in his role as an ambassador for Laureus
No doubt Messi has been below par this season and many has been pointing g the rumours surrounding his future as the reason. With the loss at Cadiz, the Argentine has set a new record. In the game Messi lost the ball 29 times, following on from 27 against Alaves, 26 against Real Madrid, and 23 against Atletico Madrid.
In nine of the 13 games he has played this season he’s been the player to have lost the most balls.