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Lionel Messi playing for a club that isn't Barcelona would never have been envisagable, but such as been the nature of 2020. Widespread reports broke out on Tuesday claiming that Barcelona's imperious captain has decided to part ways with the club after over two decades in Catalunya. And if that wasn't enough of a shocker, there's even more to it.
Marcelo Belcher, one of the most reliable journalists in Spain and the man who broke the news of Neymar leaving for Paris Saint-Germain, was the first to report that Messi is set to leave Barcelona. Belcher also claims that the prolific Argentine has already chosen his next club as well — Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
Messi and Guardiola worked together between 2008 and 2012 and won an astonishing 14 trophies in those four years, including an unprecedented sextuple, two UEFA Champions Leagues, and other honours. The six-time Ballon d'Or winner won four of his six awards in these years, winning them in successive years under Guardiola.
The combination of the Argentine and the Catalan has already proven to be one of the most illustrious player-manager duos of all time at Barcelona. Now, if Belcher, The Athletic, and several top-tier football insiders are to be believed, the legendary pair could be reunited once again, but in Manchester as opposed to Catalunya.
On that note, we take a look at how Manchester City could line up behind Lionel Messi should he join the former champions and different ways they could set up in attack.
Goalkeeper: Ederson Moraes
Despite his high-profile errors in the recent past, Manchester City aren't expected to make any significant changes in the goalkeeping department ahead of the 2020/21 season. Ederson has been a reliable figure for a large part of his City career, making crucial saves and adding another dimension to their build-up play.
The Brazilian is well-set to retain the number one spot at the Etihad for years to come as Guardiola's go-to keeper.
Defence
Right-back: Kyle Walker
Kyle Walker has been one of the most important players for Guardiola's defence since he arrived at the club in 2017. The Englishman, one of the quickest and most robust full-backs in the league, has played a vital role for the Catalan in various systems and varying roles. His pace has been a critical component to help City recover whenever they've been caught off-guard on the counter.
Whether it is to provide width or play as an inverted full-back to maintain their defensive structure, Walker will be a crucial player for the foreseeable future.
Centre-backs: Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake
With Eric Garcia all set to leave City either this year or the next, Nathan Ake is all but certain to replace the Spaniard in the heart of their defence. The likes of John Stones and Nico Otamendi have fallen down the pecking order at the Etihad and the fact that City splashed approximately £40m on Ake is enough to suggest that the versatile defender will have an important role to play.
Aymeric Laporte is Guardiola's leader at the back and is, by some distance, their best central defender. The former Athletic Bilbao man is one of the most elegant yet effective centre-halves in the world, let alone the league. His absence has been felt by City, who have conceded 12 league goals more than they did last year in 2018/19 with a fully fit Laporte.
Strong rumours are suggesting that City will purchase Kalidou Koulibaly this summer, and if that goes through, Laporte will be expected to partner the Senegalese.
Left-back: Joao Cancelo
The former champions made Benjamin Mendy the world's most expensive specialist left-back in 2017, but the Frenchman has left too much to be desired since then. The left-back has hardly ever been available for City due to recurring injuries, and Joao Cancelo has shown that he can comfortably play at left-back after a string of impressive displays, particularly in the UCL.
The Portuguese, should he remain at the club for the 2020/21 campaign, will be expected to resume his duties at left-back.
Also read: 5 Greatest career achievements of Lionel Messi
Midfield
Defensive Midfield: Rodri
Rodri is the pillar on which City's midfield is built, allowing the more creative players to express themselves freely higher up the pitch. The metronomic Spaniard is one of the most reliable defensive midfielders in the league and in Europe, calmly controlling proceedings in the middle while sniffing out opposition attacks and shutting them off.
After an impressive debut season, the signs are looking extremely promising for Rodri. He would hope to emulate fill in the shoes of his idol, the great Sergio Busquets, for Spain and his club.
Central Midfield: Kevin De Bruyne
One of the first names on the team sheet, Kevin De Bruyne is undisputedly the best player in the Premier League. The majestic Belgian has been in a league of his own over the last few years and is fresh off a record-shattering season for City which saw him score 13 goals and set up 20 in the league.
De Bruyne is the architect of this free-scoring City side, and will be a colossal figure for them regardless of the circumstances as he has already shown.
Central midfield: Bernardo Silva/Phil Foden
The berth that David Silva made his own under Guardiola will now be up for grabs, and City's host of midfield wizards are set to battle for it. Bernardo Silva is likeliest to replace his namesake in the XI as his playmaking ability, as well as a spotless worth ethic, could complement a free-roaming De Bruyne excellently.
Phil Foden, one of City's most impressive players since the resumption of football, is another superb option for Guardiola to consider in the middle. In the event that neither are available, the Cityzens will even have veteran midfielder Ilkay Gundogan to call upon — such is the depth of this star-studded squad.
Also read: 5 Best signings made by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City | Premier League 2019-20
Attack
Should Lionel Messi move to the Etihad, it could potentially open up a world of possibilities for the Cityzens' attack. They already have a host of talented world-beaters among their ranks, and with the addition of the six-time Ballon d'Or-winner to their side, it would undisputedly elevate their status to make it the most terrifying attack in football. It is also important to note that Messi could be set to join a club that managed to tally over 100 goals twice in the last three years.
Given both the quality and quantity available to Guardiola in the final third, here are three ways in which City's stellar attack could look on paper with Messi.
Alternative #1: Traditional Trident
During Guardiola's tenure as Man City coach, former Barcelona coach has shown an affinity towards the traditional 4-3-3 set up for his side. In fact, in the 2019/20 campaign, the former champions began 27 out of the 38 matches in a 4-3-3, with either two traditional wide men and a striker or someone like Raheem Sterling playing through the middle and Gabriel Jesus out wide.
Going by their past record, should City line up in a 4-3-3 with Messi, the 33-year-old could slot in seamlessly on the right-hand side of the attack and cut in onto his left — much like he has for the last few years. His goalscoring prowess has never been in question, and with a free role on the right, he could undoubtedly run the show for City.
Sterling could retain his role on the left, providing width when necessary and drifting infield when Cancelo holds the width while City attack. Sergio Aguero, Messi's long-time acquaintance, would be expected to play down the middle of the attack. The Sterling-Aguero-Messi trident could give City a familiar way of attacking, albeit with the world's best player on their side.
Alternative #2: Throwback False Nine
Messi's time under Guardiola is one of the most fabled spells in football history not only due to the accolades amassed, but also the tactical brilliance on display. At the start of his career and his Ballon d'Or reign, Messi was deployed as a 'false' nine, essentially playing through the middle but not exactly as a traditional centre-forward.
The Argentine dropped in between the lines of the opposition defence and midfield, wreaking havoc by either surging forward or bringing the wide players into play. With the likes of new signing Ferran Torres, Riyad Mahrez, and Sterling among their ranks, City have an arsenal of choices for players to flank Messi should he be played as a false nine.
While there have been many false nines in Europe, Messi is, perhaps, the greatest false nine in modern times — and he could be reuniting with the mastermind who dominated the world with this system. The Sterling-Messi-Mahrez/Torres front three could be a devastating proposition for any defence to deal with, as City could thrive with the vision and sheer calibre of a player such as the Barcelona legend on their side.
Alternative #3: Wildcard Set-up
Back in July 2020, Manchester City were handed the misfortune of presenting the guard of honour to champions Liverpool as they lost the title by 18 points. However, after the presentation, City turned up the afterburners to smash the Reds with one of the most exhilarating performances in the Premier League's recent past.
Kevin De Bruyne, City's creator-in-chief, showed his tactical versatility by playing an unorthodox wide role between the lines and helped his side demolish the newly-crowned champions.
The critical role here was played by their midfield as Guardiola — who has often been criticised for his tendency to play a lone pivot in crunch games — opted for a double pivot that did the trick. Rodri and Gundogan held down the fort while City's front four of the Belgian, Sterling, Jesus, and Foden ran riot over arguably the best side in the world.
Should Messi arrive, Guardiola can opt to play this system which incorporates two of Rodri, Fernandinho, and Gundogan as the pivots to facilitate a fluid front four of Messi, De Bruyne, Sterling, and Aguero.
De Bruyne could play the role he did in that famous 4-0 win over Liverpool with Sterling on the opposite side, providing width in the final third. The Argentine duo could be deployed centrally, with the Barcelona man playing off the City legend as a second striker and can also drop deeper when needed.
Their understanding on the pitch, and the fact that Messi has been longing to share the club stage with his friend Aguero, could help them thrive playing as the two central players in this setup.
The De Bruyne-Aguero-Messi-Sterling quartet, in theory, have enough quality to dismantle any side in world football, let alone the Premier League.
Ultimately, regardless of how they line up, the addition of a player such as Lionel Messi to a side as rampant as City could only mean terrible news for rival clubs. However, as a neutral, the possibility of witnessing 'champagne football' at the Etihad is higher than ever — and they can now play their brand of beautiful football with one of the greatest players of all time.
Also read: 4 Times Lionel Messi reportedly asked Barcelona to sign a player
