Manchester City’s failed blockbuster masterplan to sign Lionel Messi in 2020 detailed

Officials at Manchester City had in place a blockbuster masterplan to secure the services of Lionel Messi after the 2019/20 season, as detailed by a new report this week.

It was a dream for many City supporters that came at the end of a somewhat underwhelming campaign for Pep Guardiola and his players.

Manchester City had just come off the back of a League Cup and Community Shield triumph, but finished as runners-up in the Premier League, semi-finalists in the FA Cup, and only quarter-finalists in the competition that continues to elude them – the Champions League.

But while City officials may publicly deny a certain level of interest in the opportunity to bring Lionel Messi to the Etihad Stadium, behind the scenes a masterplan was drawn up in the summer transfer window of 2020.

According to a new report from The Athletic, Lionel Messi was set on joining Manchester City, after the Argentine forward had sent a registered letter — to Josep Bartomeu’s office after the 2019/20 season telling him he wanted to leave on a free transfer.

Pol Ballus writes that Messi contacted Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, before the Premier League club started ‘exploring a potential contract proposal’.

The blockbuster masterplan discussed in the Manchester City boardroom was made up of several points, that would ultimately tie Lionel Messi to both the Etihad Stadium, and the City Football Group brand for life.

As detailed by The Athletic, the club held the following plans, should a deal come to fruition:

• Offer Lionel Messi a route to New York City FC after life in the Premier League.
• Consider making Lionel Messi an ambassador for Manchester City after retirement.

Ultimately, no such deal were to happen, and no such emotional reunion with Pep Guardiola were to be seen, with the Argentine football legend continuing at FC Barcelona for another season, before leaving for the French capital the following summer.

On 10 August 2021, Lionel Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain, signing a two-year deal until June 2023 with an option for an extra year.

Messi most recently linked up with one of Manchester City’s forward talents in his crowning glory at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, forming a special partnership with Julian Alvarez in Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina attack – perhaps a glimpse of what could’ve been at the Etihad Stadium should things have worked out a little differently.