The Premier League could be in for an unimaginable reunion. Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi could join former Barca manager Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, suggest reports.
And we can seeing that happening next summer itself.
Spanish radio station Cadena COPE has claimed that Guardiola, who is currently the manager of Bayern Munich, has already made up his mind to replace Manuel Pellegrini as the next head coach at Man City. Guardiola is in the final year of his contract at the Allianz Arena, and the report could well turn out to be true.
However, it has to be noted that only earlier this month, a report stated that Bayern were ready to give the Spanish coach a stunning deal that could see him pocket £17 million annually.
The German giants are however yet to enter into negotiations with Guardiola, and club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said the fate of the manager will be decided after 19 December.
Bayern play Hannover on the day in a Bundesliga game.
"It is not planned to push back that date [of starting negotiations with Guardiola]," Rummenigge was quoted by the Guardian as saying.
"We have always said there will be a decision in 2015. I know that it's late, just days before Christmas. But the talks will be held after the Hannover match, and we'll then announce a decision.
Meanwhile, Argentina skipper and one of the best footballers of this generation, Messi, could be set for a move to the Etihad Stadium in a deal that will see him pocket around £40 million a year, reports The Sun.
The 28-year-old Barca talisman is believed to earn £32 million for playing, and the rest of the amount will be paid through his image rights and in the form of bonuses. The report also says that Messi, who has a buy-out clause of £250m, is also open to moving to newer pastures.
Barca could be open to looking for something around £120m, at a realistic level, for the master dribbler.