The football world went into meltdown on Thursday night as Barcelona announced that Lionel Messi will not be staying at the club.
With the Catalan giants unable to afford to offer him a new contract, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain quickly became the favourites to secure the services of the world's best player.
On Friday afternoon, City boss Pep Guardiola all but ruled out a move for his former Barca player, saying "we were convinced too that Leo would continue at Barcelona, so right now he is not in our thoughts. Absolutely not."
But could this be a smoke screen? If negotiations are being conducted in the shadows, then there's a few positions that Messi could line up in.
Out wide
If Guardiola sticks with the 4-3-3 formation that he used last season, then the obvious starting spot for Messi would be on the left or right wing.
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner played arguably some of the best football of his career in that position, forming a fearsome attacking trident with Luis Suarez and Neymar in 2014/15. That season Barca lifted the Champions League trophy, something City bosses would be hoping Messi could help them do this season.
Of course, playing on the left would cause some casualties in the City squad. Last season that spot was shared by Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling, and Thursday's £100m signing of Jack Grealish has has brought in another candidate.
Grealish and Foden can both play in number eight roles or even as a false nine. Sterling's best position is by far and away the left wing, but he could also compete with Riyad Mahrez to play on the right, or operate as a striker if needed.
Up front
Last season Messi played most of his minutes in a forward two, with Barca manager Ronald Koeman adopting a 3-5-2 formation after a poor start to the season.
City have not had great success using this system in recent years, with the 3-1 Champions League quarter-final defeat to Lyon in 2020 springing to mind.
However, with Messi at his disposal, Pep could be tempted to give it another go.
In a midfield four
City have used a 4-1-4-1 formation on a couple of occasions this pre-season, and there's no reason why Messi couldn't fit into that.
At 34 years of age, his ability to run all over the pitch will soon wain, so playing next to someone a bit more mobile, like Kevin De Bruyne, could suit him.
What's evident though is that Messi is going to remain one of the world's best passers well into his thirties. Midfield maestro? No problem.
Whether City can afford Messi's contract, or whether he even wants to join Pep at the Etihad Stadium, are different questions entirely.
What is certain though is that Messi would fit perfectly into Guardiola's footballing machine.
