Graeme Souness believes Manchester United should make a sensational move for Lionel Messi, before adding that this week would be ‘perfect’ to make a move for the Barcelona superstar.
The LaLiga club plunged into yet another crisis on Friday after being hammered 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter finals in Lisbon, raising questions about Messi’s future in Catalonia.
Barcelona coach Quique Setien is set to be sacked by the club while Gerard Pique has called for a total rebuild from top to bottom to get the club competing on European football’s biggest stage.
Messi, 33, has spent his entire professional career with Barca, but with one year remaining on his contract he could be eyeing the exit door after their calamitous exit.
And Liverpool icon Souness believes that both Manchester clubs should make their move for the Argentine maestro, outlining that the uncertainty at Barcelona makes it a ‘perfect’ time to plot a move.
‘Lionel Messi looked like a man who has had enough of carrying that team,’ he wrote in The Times. ‘Without him they wouldn’t even be good enough to qualify for the Champions League.
‘This would be the perfect week to put a bid in for the 33-year-old Argentinian and I could easily see him playing in Manchester — at either United or City.’
Of the two clubs mentioned, City would be more likely to win the race to sign Messi, with boss Pep Guardiola having worked with Messi during the pair’s glory years at the Nou Camp.
Reports suggest that City are willing to pay ‘whatever it takes’ to land the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, who despite not being in his prime years, would still prove a sensational signing.
Inter Milan have also been linked with a move for Messi, although they may struggle to match the financial strength of the two Manchester clubs.
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