This summer’s hottest rumoured transfer in Lionel Messi to Manchester City seems to have been a sign of things to come. Barcelona and Ronald Koeman are reportedly “resigned” to lose one of their greatest assets in either of the upcoming transfer windows.
Though there have been multiple reports that state that City could make a £15 million bid for Messi in the January transfer window, Koeman’s statement on the issue seems to offer more clarity on the situation.
In the original quote, published by the Mirror, Ronald Koeman says the following about speculation regarding the Argentinian’s wish to leave in the summer.
“I was always hoping Messi would stay for this season. If he had left in the summer, I would have had a very different situation at Barca.”
“He wanted to leave but the club was very clear to him. The buy out clause was so high, that not a single club in the world was going to pay that in these times.”
“I went to his house and took time to listen to all the things he said. But I also explained to him that I had not been a part of the problems he had with the club and told him how I was going to work to change things.”
“We ended up talking about football tactics. It ended as a proper football chat and that convinced me he is a real lover of the game and he still wanted to put everything he has into Barcelona.”
Messi has made over 700 appearances for Barcelona and has only ever played for the Blaugrana in his professional career.
After Koeman’s attitude and statement on the subject, it only seems to be a matter of time before their greatest ever player decides to move on. Whether that happens in the winter or next summer, is something that remains to be seen.
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