Man City the ‘logical’ transfer for Lionel Messi, says agent who helped him join Barcelona

Manchester City would be the “rational choice” for Lionel Messi if he leaves Barcelona, according to the man who helped bring him to the Catalan club.

Josep Maria Minguella, the agent who worked on Messi’s move to Barca’s famous La Masia youth academy at the age of 13, had previously been quoted as claiming the Argentine would sign for Inter Milan but said his comments were misinterpreted.

“I simply said Inter is one of the options by virtue of the more advantageous tax system that they have in Italy,” Minguella told TuttoMercatoWeb.

“We have already seen that with Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus two years ago... lots of big players are thinking of moving to Serie A nowadays.”

“By the way, precisely because Ronaldo is already there, I don’t think the Bianconeri are going to be in the running for Messi,” the Spaniard added.

Lionel Messi has been the jewel in Barcelona's crown for most of his career (AFP via Getty Images)

Asked where he thought the six-time Ballon d’Or winner would go, Minguella responded by saying “it is far more likely Messi will stay at Barcelona until 2021” when his contract expires rather than taking a chance on his €700million release clause.

The La Liga giants have argued that Messi missed a June deadline to leave the club outside of the clause, but the player’s people feel that the date referred to the original end of the season, which was extended due to the coronavirus lockdown.

“Barca have already decided (to fight for Messi to stay) and I am convinced they will defend that choice until the end,” Minguella explained.

“Leo has a contract and not even his own lawyers are sure he can move without that famous €700million release clause having to be paid.”

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(Getty Images)

Minguella described Messi’s shock decision to quit the club, nearly two decades after he took him there, as “surprising and unexpected”.

However, he added: “My long experience in the world of football has taught me that anything can always happen, absolutely anything.

“Cristiano Ronaldo's move from Real Madrid to Juventus was just the most recent example. In football, nothing is impossible.”