Guardiola drops huge Messi hint amid speculation over Man City transfer

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola name-checked Lionel Messi as the type of player he would “love” to add to his team.

Guardiola has a close relationship with the Barcelona legend, after guiding him to multiple trophies during his time in the Nou Camp dugout.

Messi could be set to end his long association with the La Liga giants, with his contract expiring at the end of the current season.

The Argentinian is yet to commit his future to the club, with City and Paris Saint-Germain believed to be the two teams leading the race to secure his signature.

And speaking after Man City’s impressive 3-0 win over Tottenham, Guardiola admitted he would like to add a player, in the ilk of Messi, that can win games on their own.

“We don’t have a single player who can win a game, we don’t have a Cristiano, a Messi, a Neymar,” said Guardiola. “We don’t have these types of players who can win games by themselves. I told the players many times, you have to play as a team.

“I will be honest. I’d like to have a player to score, every single game, four goals and run like these players can run. I would love it.

“But I will not change any player we have right now, this season. All of them have shown in the bad moments. The big teams, the big players show it in the bad moments. In the good moments everyone is easy to play.”

Meanwhile, Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has suggested that Messi is still happy and excited at the club.

Barca have seemingly turned the corner under the Dutchman, winning the last seven games after struggling at the start of campaign.

“Well, we know that Leo is a decisive player,” he said. “He has been for many years, he is very concentrated. He's excited, he's happy and he's been very effective in front of goal.

“He's someone that when we make passes between the lines to find him it gives a load of depth for the rest of the players and makes them even easier for him.”

Koeman added: “He has a great vision of play, so of course if we want to try and go through or aspire to win trophies having Messi at his best is vital, but we need also everyone else at the best. That's very important.”

Source: Read Full Article