In the light of the recent uncertainty surrounding the future of Lionel Messi at Barcelona, Wayne Rooney has urged Lionel Messi to make a move to the Premier League. Messi is reportedly unhappy at Barcelona and wants a move away. He has requested over a fax machine that his contract is terminated. Manchester City has emerged as the likeliest destination for Messi but Rooney believes that a move to either of the Manchester clubs would be good for the Argentine superstar.
Rooney and Messi went head to head on a number of occasions including two UEFA Champions League finals from 2009-2011 so he clearly knows a lot about the current Balon d’Or holder. In his latest interview with TalkSport, he was full of praise for the Barcelona star.
“I know he’s getting older but he’s a player who no one has seen before. Messi has everything – he can create goals, score goals, dictate the game and is the best player of all time. He’s one of the only players I’ve sat there and watched and been in awe. He and Cristiano Ronaldo have set a standard which I don’t think will ever be seen again but, for me, Messi is just different level.”
The ex-Manchester United skipper then went further to give reasons on why a move to English football would be good for Messi. “He could come to the Premier League and be a Player of the Year. One million per cent. If he surrounds himself with Bruno Fernandes or Kevin De Bruyne he could win a seventh Ballon d’Or, which would be incredible.”
Should Messi move to the Etihad, he would reunite with Pep Guardiola and based on the evidence of their time together at Barcelona, Rooney’s statement has a lot of truth in it. During Pep’s trophy-laden four year spell at the Camp Nou, Messi won the prestigious award in all four seasons so there is enough reason to suggest that he can repeat the feat this time.
