Who will Lionel Messi sign for and how much will he cost?

Lionel Messi has told Barcelona he wants to leave the club. The end of an era is, seemingly, insight and that will usher in a strange new world, for Barca and his next employers.

Unsurprisingly, debates have raged ever since the news came to light on Tuesday, with Barca receiving communication that their talisman, the most iconic player in their modern history, wants out.

In some ways it was predictable. The turmoil engulfing Barca’s hierarchy and their decision making in the past few years looked destined to come to a head – there would be major consequences, and Messi leaving was always going to be the worst-case scenario.

Whether he does or not is a different matter. Some believe his request is a power-play to oust president Josep Maria Bartomeu early, and there are plenty calling for his resignation.

But, for arguably the first time, Messi leaving Barca appears a real possibility What will determine his next destination? Romance? Trophies? Vengeance?

Messi to Man City?

We are, after all, talking about one of the biggest transfers in football history and only a select number of clubs have both the financial and sporting criteria to attract Messi’s signature.

But the frontrunners in most people’s eyes, as well as the bookmakers, are Manchester City and the possibility of a reunion with Pep Guardiola after eight years apart.

It’s a theory that is also supported by Brazilian journalist Marcelo Bechler, who reported earlier this month that Messi intended to leave Barcelona.

Messi prefers Man City move

He also happens to be the reporter who first broke the news that Neymar planned to leave Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017… and we all know how that worked out.

And per a translation from Bleacher Report, Bechler is reporting that Messi wants to spend next season at the Etihad Stadium when he moves on from Barcelona.

Messi and Guardiola are said to have already made contact, with the player apparently attracted by the City project as well as the attractive and passing style of football they play.

Bechler made the claims during a video with Brazilian broadcaster Esporte Interativo, which has attracted more than one million views on Twitter.

Messi quer jogar no Manchester City. Trata a saída do Barcelona como algo que dói na alma, mas o fim de um ciclo pic.twitter.com/FVMPDvB7Go

— Marcelo Bechler (@marcelobechler) August 26, 2020

City seems the most sensible move for Messi

Aside from the fact it would be incredible to see Messi in the Premier League, I think reuniting with Guardiola would be the perfect way for him to settle at a new club for the first time in decades.

And it goes without saying that Messi isn’t necessarily the most adaptable player to different brands of football, so it makes a lot of sense for him to link up with a club whose philosophy compliments him.