Will Lionel Messi actually leave Barcelona in 2021 for Manchester City?
The Lionel Messi transfer saga certainly did shake the world as nobody expected the 33-year-old forward to leave the Camp Nou after 19 long years. The football world was under the impression that Messi would most likely retire at Barcelona, however, the last few weeks could have potentially changed his future.
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Since Messi is set to continue at the Camp Nou for the 2020/21 season, the question arises that what happens when his contract runs out in the summer of 2021. Will the Argentine forward leave Barca as a free agent for Manchester City? or will he sign a new contract under a new board post the elections?
It is certainly a complicated situation, however, Messi just stay
If you have watched the exclusive interview of Lionel Messi with GOAL, you would have noticed that the player expressed his dissatisfaction not towards the club but towards the board and Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Messi clearly stated that the club is a disaster under Bartomeu and Messi is not the only one to hit out the president. Dani Alves and Neymar have also hit out Bartomeu after leaving the club and it seems like most players simply do not get along with President and his plans.
However, the elections in 2021 might see either Victor Font or Joan Laporta take over as the president of the club. Both the candidates have the vision of overturning the current situation of the club and share a healthy relationship with Messi.
It is highly likely that Messi could sign a lucrative contract in 2021 under either Font or Laporta as the president of the club. However, a move to Manchester City might be on the cards as well since Messi stated that he believed his time at the club had come to an end and that the club needed new youngsters to take over.
Leo Messi is certainly looking for a winning project so he can end his career on a high note and if Laporta or Font can assure the player a winning squad then it is most likely that Messi would continue.