LIONEL MESSI’S cousin, Maximiliano Biancucchi, reckons Manchester City would be the perfect fit for the Barcelona icon.
The 33-year-old – who has one year left on his contract at the Nou Camp – put in a transfer request after the club were humiliated by Bayern Munich.
Lionel Messi’s cousin Maximiliano Biancucchi (right) sees the Barca ace playing at Manchester City
As reported by Ole, Biancucchi said: “I don’t think Messi has to play with friends, he has to find a place where he is happy.
“If he was happy in Barcelona, he would have stayed there. He has to pay attention to what he feels.
“I never imagined that Leo could leave Barcelona. Of all the teams that are named, I think that in Manchester City he would fit in well .
“Messi is a good kid, that’s why it hurts me a lot when he is criticised from decision-makers since they say that he builds teams.”
But Biancucchi hopes Messi will return to his childhood side Newell’s in Argentina.
He added: “I am hopeful that at some point Leo can play at Newell’s.
“My brother (Emanuel) went to Newell’s and didn’t even have the chance to play five minutes. Now it is in the story that he played there because he was Leo’s cousin.”
City are reportedly ready to offer Messi a staggering £450million over five years if he leaves Barcelona, reports claim.
Speculation regarding the Argentine’s future intensified over the weekend after he snubbed coronavirus testing in Barcelona and he will definitely not show up for the first day of pre-season training today
There has even been talk that Messi has spoken to Guardiola and told him he believes he can win two Ballon d’Or titles at the Etihad.
The Barcelona megastar is locked in a legal battle with the Catalan giants after his request to leave on a free earlier this month.
Barca and LaLiga joined forces yesterday to insist the terms of his contract mean if Messi wants to leave he will have to stump up the huge release clause.
The Argentina ace believes he no longer works for the Catalans – and that the club’s claim he must pay them £623million to quit won’t stand up in court.
Lionel Messi already in contact with Pep Guardiola as Man City lead transfer race for wantaway Barcelona superstar
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
