Talk of Lionel Messi Can Wait, Manchester City Have More Pressing Concerns

Manchester City believe they have positioned themselves as the club wantaway Barcelona stars would most want to join, according to Ian Herbert writing in the Independent.

That includes Lionel Messi, a player the City directors feel is the greatest talent ever to grace the game.

The City board is confident Pep Guardiola’s arrival at the Etihad Stadium means any players looking to leave the Liga side would favour a move to Manchester, with his training methods, personality and style of play making him the most attractive coach for players to work with—particularly those who enjoy an intense, possession-based game.

They feel if Messi was ever to leave Barcelona, City would be his next destination.

Despite this report, the 28-year-old is unlikely to leave the Camp Nou, with Barcelona currently the best club side in world football and the finest exponents of open, attractive play.

Messi has won seven La Liga titles and an incredible four UEFA Champions League trophies during his time in the Barcelona first team. It’s a remarkable record that underlines his position as the greatest player in world football.

VI-Images/Getty Images

They are favourites at the start of every Champions League campaign, and domestically, they are currently far superior to their competitors.

Indeed, ahead of last week’s Champions League quarter-final draw, current City boss Manuel Pellegrini said Barcelona were the one side left in the competition he wanted to avoid, suggesting the other seven sides were all fairly equal.

"In my opinion, Barcelona are the team that can make the difference, but all the other teams are the same," he said.

"You never know what represents an easy draw when you're with the eight best teams on the continent. Maybe one team has less of a name than another, but they're at this stage so they deserve to be there because they beat other teams."

The cynics would suggest talk of a move for Messi could be an attempt to try to mask the current furore over ticket prices. The 1894 Group and fansites City Watch and Typical City have all criticised the club for what they see as unfair price rises in recent seasons.

Season-ticket prices have risen significantly in recent years, and now the club have announced ticket prices for City’s Champions League quarter-final with Paris Saint-Germain, with top adult prices reaching £60.

There are now serious rumblings of a possible Etihad Stadium walkout, similar to the one the Liverpool fans conducted against Sunderland at Anfield earlier in the season.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

There’s also the small matter of City’s form on the field. They have taken just four points from the last 18 available in the Premier League, leaving them fourth, just one point ahead of both Manchester United and West Ham United.

They are in serious danger of failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League, something incoming boss Guardiola is unlikely to have considered a possibility when he agreed to take the job.

City fans should probably ignore the Messi rumours for now and remain focused on the more pressing issues: ticket-pricing issues and Champions League qualification. This could be a vital end to the season; both in terms of the club’s immediate future and the relationship with the supporters.

Messi is the man every side wants, but the reality of a deal anytime soon seems remote.

VI-Images/Getty Images

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard.