Rivaldo encourages Lionel Messi to join Man City and make them truly unstoppable

Posted Saturday, February 27, 2021 by Dailystar.co.uk

Lionel Messi has been linked with a Pep Guardiola reunion at Manchester City ever since the dramatic summer transfer window - and Rivaldo thinks the move would make the club ‘even stronger’

Lionel Messi should consider Manchester City as a “very solid destination” where he would make the club “even stronger”, says Rivaldo.

The Argentine has been linked with a move to the Premier League leaders throughout the season, having expressed a desire to leave last summer.

With his Nou Camp contract set to expire in the summer, the success he enjoyed with Pep Guardiola in Spain has seen a City move judged to be a likely transfer.

And Rivaldo, who won two La Liga titles and a UEFA Super Cup with the Spanish giants, believes Messi can make the Etihad Stadium side unstoppable with a move.

Lionel Messi has been encouraged to join Man City by Rivaldo to make them 'even stronger' (Image: 2021 Alex Caparros)

Speaking to Betfair , the Barca hero said: “Pep Guardiola has one of the best squads in Europe and Manchester City are in incredible form right now after 19 consecutive wins, jumping to a 10-point lead in the league and taking a solid step forward in Europe this week.

"City are a very rich club and that allows them to sign the best players in the world.

Rivaldo encourages Lionel Messi to join Man City and make them truly unstoppable
The Argentine has been linked with a move to Pep Guardiola's side, with his contract up in the summer (Image: ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images)

"For that reason, they would be a very solid destination for Lionel Messi if he leaves Barcelona.

"Mix the great moment of form they're going through with the fact that Guardiola has already coached Messi with huge success, and it's clear that the English club would become even stronger with the Argentinian star on their ranks.

"In fact, with Messi, they would be the favourite to win any competition.”

And Rivaldo says Messi's arrival would make City 'favourite to win any competition'

Rivaldo encourages Lionel Messi to join Man City and make them truly unstoppable
And Rivaldo says Messi's arrival would make City 'favourite to win any competition' (Image: 2018 Zhizhao Wu)

An exit for Messi would see the 33-year-old end his 18-year stay with Barcelona, where the forward has scored 668 goals in 794 appearances.

But City may have to contend with David Beckham’s Inter Miami if they want to sign the six-time Ballon D’Or winner, staying in Spain until 2022 before heading to the MLS.

And Messi’s comments of his “dream” to play in the USA - as well as owning a £7.25m property in Miami - do go against City’s chances.