Speaking recently on the Ask Ornstein YouTube show, David Ornstein discussed the chances of Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona this summer, amid reported interest from Manchester City.
Having made his Barcelona debut as a 17-year-old back in 2004, Messi has since gone on to make 731 appearances, scoring an astonishing 634 goals and providing 285 assists for the Catalan club, helping them to win a quite frankly ridiculous amount of silverware.
The 33-year-old is not only arguably the best Barcelona player in history, but has also been dubbed the best player in the history of football by his former teammate, Xavi.
However, following Barcelona’s humiliating 8-2 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich, rumours began circulating that the £100.8 million-rated man wanted to leave the club.
Manchester City were subsequently then linked with a move for the Argentine, however, Ornstein said that he would be very surprised if the Barcelona man did indeed leave the club this summer.
He said: “We’ve seen this situation with Messi many times – whether it comes from him, his father, people around him. We know he’s extremely happy in Barcelona with life. His family are very settled. He earns huge money, some say around €50 million net per year. Would he be available for transfer? I just don’t see it.
“He brings to Barcelona a chance on the pitch when they’ve got him in their side, they always know something is possible in all competitions. Off the pitch, commercially, he generates them an enormous amount of money.
“It feels in this latest media flare-up, that it’s basically him and his people urging the Barcelona hierarchy to get their act together, maybe offer him a new contract.
“There will, of course, be loads of suitors for a player of his quality, for what he brings, again, on and off the pitch, but whether they could afford what would be an enormous transfer fee and salary, I don’t know, and so, I would assume we’ll be seeing Messi in Barcelona colours next season.”
Do you ever see Messi joining City?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts…
So, despite the number of reports flying around at present regarding Messi, it would appear that the player will indeed remain at Barcelona beyond this summer, if Ornstein is to be believed.
And, considering the fact that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who was previously Messi’s coach at Barcelona, stated that he hoped the player ends his career in Catalonia, it would seem there is at least one person involved with City who will be happy about this news.