Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville believes Lionel Messi will stay at Barcelona despite handing in a transfer request.
Argentinian forward Messi is pushing for a move away from the Nou Camp in the wake of Barcelona’s humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
The 33-year-old has spent almost two decades at Barca, winning an impressive amount of collective and individual trophies, but sent a fax to the Spanish club last week saying he wishes to leave for free with immediate effect.
Manchester City have emerged as the favourites to sign Messi, with Pep Guardiola relishing the prospect of linking up with a player he worked with in Spain.
But Neville still doubts Messi will leave Barcelona, telling Sky Sports: ‘I think it’s politics and power struggle. Messi is flexing his muscles.
‘It’s probably a bit more than that, but I think that is where it will end up in the end.
‘The idea that Barcelona will lose this player and he doesn’t finish his career there seems unbelievable to me. Does he really want to leave? Maybe.
‘But when push comes to shove and he’s got to meet with the president, the board and everyone else standing in his way, I think he will end up staying.
‘But if he were to come to the Premier League, I think it would be to work with Pep.
‘Would I want to see it? I think I would have to say yes, because the idea of watching Messi close up, something I have done over the last 10 years, really is something to behold.
‘But I just hope he doesn’t do very well for them!’
Since making his first-team debut in 2004, Messi has scored 634 goals in 731 appearances for Barcelona, helping the club win ten La Liga titles and the Champions League four times.
