Lionel Messi has been told that a move to Manchester City would be the best thing for him, considering his relationship with Pep Guardiola and Sergio Aguero.
Messi is set to leave Barcelona at the end of the season on a free transfer, one year after trying to force his way out of the Nou Camp.
He is free to sign a pre-contractual agreement with City during the January transfer window ahead of a move at the end of the season.
And his former team-mate Pablo Zabaleta believes a move to the Etihad would be ideal for him.
"Manchester City is the best place for Messi," Zabaleta said.
"It's sad to see him in his current situation. I never thought he'd go into his last year of contract at Barcelona. The team aren't playing well and it seems as though they're not enjoying their football.
“We'll see what happens with Messi at the end of the season.
"He has a close friend in Sergio [Aguero] at City and he has worked with Pep before at Barcelona.
"They know each other and some of the other people on the board know him as well.
"If Messi decides to leave Barcelona and play in a different country, then of course City are a club he could join."
The Argentine forward is clearly disillusioned with life at Barcelona and the direction the club is going in, and has been vocal about his displeasure recently.
He is in the last year of his contract, and recently claimed he was tired of being blamed for the club’s shortfallings.
There have been suggestions that he would decide to stay after the club presidential elections in January, but City will have the chance to make a move as soon as the window opens.
