5 reasons why Leo Messi will join Manchester City

'Lionel Messi to leave Barcelona' is a rumour that has been circulating in the football world for a long time now. Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Chelsea have been linked with the Argentine but nothing has happened so far.

However, things look more likely to happen now than ever. The Barcelona legend is close to leaving the club finally and several reports suggest that this will be his last season at Camp Nou.

Here's a look at why 5 reasons why Lionel Messi will join Manchester City next summer:

#5 - The Pep Guardiola connection

Reunited?

Leo Messi and Pep Guardiola credit each other for what they are right now. And if it wasn't for the manager, Messi would not have been at Barcelona right now.

A documentary by TV3 revealed that Messi had decided to leave Barcelona last summer because of the tax fraud issues and was keen on joining Manchester City. However, Guardiola met him in person and convinced him to stay at Camp Nou.

Now with his contract expiring and the Argentine not sure if he wants to stay again, Manchester City might take advantage of the situation and sign him up. Guardiola is the only manager he would want to work under and Pep isn't going to leave Manchester City anytime soon.

#4 - Fresh challenge

Will he finally score against Chelsea?

Playing in the Premier League is something that is of every player's interest. Leo Messi might be no different.

While there are several players have not moved to the Premier League at any point of their career, Messi might take the path of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Swede dominated the Serie A and Ligue 1 before heading to the Premier League at the age of 34. Despite his age, he still managed to notch in several goals and was a threat to the opponents defence.

Similarly, Messi has been dominating for years now and would want a change. Cristiano Ronaldo has proved his worth in the Premier League, time for Messi to do the same?

#3 - Better project than Barcelona

Joining the 'better' team?

It might sound a bit odd to people but it is the truth. Manchester City have a better project that Barcelona right now.

The Citizen have a young squad, a manager who wants to make the club great and an owner who's ready to do anything to make Manchester City the best in the world.

Messi would be the best thing to happen to Manchester City right now and vice versa.

Apart from this, the off field issues at Barcelona are also not something Messi would want to be a part of. The board is getting a lot of heat for the way they are running the club and it's no surprise that Messi has not signed the new contract.

He wouldn't have any such issue at Manchester City as the club is being run smoothly, without any sort of an issue.

#2 - One last big-fat contract

Signing for City?

The career of Leo Messi is fast approaching its end. He might be playing for another 4-5 seasons max before he hangs his boots.

He isn't the world highest paid player right now and though Barcelona have promised to make him, it seems unlikely with this board. Manchester City, however, have everything to do it.

Messi is not the sort of a player who is bound to turn into a manager. Once he retires, one does not see him becoming a coach or a manager.

He would have to depend on his commercial deals but before that, he would want to earn how much ever possible to make things easier after he hangs his boots.

The Citizens will definitely make him the World's highest paid player ever and with him moving to the Premier League, he would only end up getting more commercial deals.

Moreover, unlike clubs in Spain, Premier League clubs do not demand a percentage of what the player earns in Image rights. It'll only result in Messi earning more money!

#1 - No tax issues

Barcelona's Leo Messi Testifies In Fraud Case

One thing that has bothered Messi the most during his time at Barcelona is the Tax Fraud case against him. He has been accused of 'cheating' the government of million of euros and has been sentenced to 21 months in prison.

Though the case is now done and dusted with him paying the fine, it's not something that might not pop up again later. The Spanish prosecutors are trying to find things against the top players in La Liga and it will definitely try to find some flaw in the financial sheet of Messi.

In England, all that can be avoided easily. The club, first of all, takes care of all that for the players and if there is any issue, the club takes full responsibility and handle everything.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who's himself caught in a tax fraud case, recently said,

"I never had a problem in England… that’s why I would like to go back to England."