Top 5 realistic options for Lionel Messi this summer

#4 The Far East

Messi and Andrés Iniesta achieved great success together at Barcelona

There is a long-term ambition for China to become a world superpower in the game, and while the initial heavy investment brought a flood of foreign talent, there is now an appreciation that such investment must be made wisely.

A restriction on foreign players has moved the emphasis towards quality over quantity, and such signings will not be made unless they are for the benefit of the Chinese game as a whole. There is a project in place to propel China to top of the world game, and attracting Messi would be a pivotal step in their statement of intent.

Few players would inspire a generation like Messi, and that fact would not be lost on those funding the ambitious project. But there is another option in the Far East that would appeal to Messi, as former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andrés Iniesta is currently playing for Vissel Kobe in Japan.

While it would an ambitious move, some of the most defining moments in Messi’s career at Barcelona involved linking-up with Iniesta and his midfield partner Xavi. The opportunity to get at least part of the band back together for a final time would be a major coup, and it would be one of the most attractive prospects in the world game.