Michael Owen names Premier League team that will suit Lionel Messi the most amid rumors of loan transfer

Former England international-turned-pundit Micheal Owen has named Manchester City as the Premier League team that will suit Lionel Messi the most. The 45-year-old believes that the Argentine legend is familiar with Pep Guardiola and can suit the Cityzen's style of play.

Owen made this claim while speaking recently to ESPN Argentina. He said (via Mundo Albiceleste):

"One player that’s not been in the Premier League? Yeah, Messi, Messi, yeah, he’s going to be suitable for anybody. It must be Manchester City, I mean with Pep, Pep knows him, they’re a passing team, it has to be Manchester City, yeah."

Messi has surprisingly been linked with a move to the Premier League. As per Tuttosport (via Hindustan Times), Guardiola is interested in roping in the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner on a six-month loan deal to help salvage the season amid his side's recent poor performance.

Manchester City have managed just one win in their last 12 matches and lost 1-2 to Aston Villa in the league earlier today (December 21). However, a permanent move to the Premier League seems unlikely as Lionel Messi remains a key player for Inter Miami and is still contracted to the club until December 2025.

The Argentine legend notably played some of his best football under Pep Guardiola when the Spanish manager was in charge of Barcelona. In four seasons under Pep's tutelage, Messi scored 211 goals and provided 94 assists in 219 games.

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AC Milan star reveals why he named his dog after Lionel Messi

AC Milan star Tijani Reijnders has recently opened up on why he named his dog after Inter Miami star Lionel Messi. The Dutchman owns a Pomsky (a crossbreed of a Pomeranian and a Husky) and said he named the dog after the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner because he is the best player in the world.

He said (via Albiceleste on X):

"My dog's name is Messi, when I was young I always said if I got a dog I would name him Messi, because for me [he] is the best player in the world. Then we decided we would get a dog, and the first thing I said to my wife is if we got a dog we would name him Messi.'

Reijnders is not the first footballer to name a pet after the Argentine. Former Real Madrid playmaker Isco had also revealed in 2013 (via GOAL) that he named his dog Lionel Messi.