Lionel Messi Leaving Barcelona For Man City Is 'Real,' Multiple Sources Reveal

The possibility of Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona for Manchester City is now “real,” multiple sources have said.

Despite reaching a career milestone of 700 goals, rumors have been circulating that Barcelona’s longtime captain, Messi, is on his way out of the club. Recent reports claimed that the Argentine icon is not ruling out the possibility of parting ways with Barca when his current contract expires in 2021.

Now, multiple “reliable sources” from Europe have revealed that the possibility of Messi exiting Barcelona and heading to Man City is closer to reality than expected.

According to Europe-based reporter Christian Martin of Fox Sports, the Messi departure rumor is now “real.” A tweet from Martin in Spanish (translated by soccer-oriented sports website Give Me Sport) suggested that Messi’s Barcelona exit and Man City arrival would be “positive for all involved.”

The report was then confirmed by Roy Nemer, owner of Argentina news website Mundo Albiceleste, which has also been covering the latest soccer news involving Argentine players. According to Nemer, the source of Martin's information is “reliable.”

However, Give Me Sport's veteran soccer analyst Danny Ryan stressed the possible complications of Messi joining Man City should this latest update turn out to be accurate.

As per Ryan, Messi reuniting with his old mentor, Pep Guardiola, makes the most sense about the rumor. Aside from this, Messi wouldn’t find it hard to adapt as he already has a close friend in the team – Sergio Aguero.

However, signing a 33-year-old who could cost Man City double the salary of Kevin De Bruyne did not seem probable, according to the analyst. Although Messi is indeed worth the money, Ryan suggested that “it just doesn't feel like a Guardiola move regardless of the manager's attachment to the player. ”

Some soccer insiders and veterans who have established a personal relationship with Messi are also speculating about his possible Barcelona exit.

Former Argentina player Juan Sebastian Veron, who has shared a dressing room with Messi in the past, recently weighed in on the subject. Veron admitted that he can’t imagine his compatriot actually leaving Barca. He also pointed out that only Messi can tell whether or not he really sees himself having a better career outside Camp Nou.

Ex-Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, on the other hand, seems ready for the possibility of Messi parting ways with Barcelona. As early as now, Rosell is already urging Barca to re-sign Neymar as he believes the Brazilian is the only worthy replacement for Messi.