Lionel Messi increasingly likely to join surprise Premier League club as odds slashed
Lionel Messi has been linked again with a move to the Premier League in the January transfer window.
Manchester City are the favourites to sign Messi, with the Citizens likely the most capable of paying the type of wages the Argentine icon would ask.
Pep Guardiola managed the 38-year-old at Barcelona and would surely have a large sway over his destination, also.
Messi extended his contract at Inter Miami in October, but the forward could well eye the latter years of his career in England.
The 2026 World Cup will be Messi’s last, and he will be keen to finish his legendary career with a flourish.
Liverpool move touted for Lionel Messi as odds shorten
The Premier League has always been a point of contention among fans of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
For those who believe the latter is the better of the two, the Premier League has always been the first argument to point to.
Ronaldo spent six initial years in the English top flight with Manchester United before returning in 2021, scoring 103 goals and providing 37 assists across 236 appearances.
He won his first Ballon d’Or while at Old Trafford, and, of course, later went on to dominate Europe.
Messi has never played in the Premier League, starting out at Barcelona and staying there until 2021.
The footballing legend had the chance to join Man City when he left both the Spanish giants and PSG on free transfers, but he opted against it.
Messi still has a few years to prove that he can do it in the Premier League, however, and one major bookmaker has surprisingly slashed his odds of joining Liverpool in the January transfer window to 8/1.
Barcelona remain the favourite (4/1) to sign him should he leave Inter Miami, while Man City (10/1) follow the Reds.
Messi’s stunning record vs English teams
The idea that Messi would not have been able to cope in the Premier League falls down when you take notice of his record against English teams.
Due to Barcelona’s Champions League success, the Argentine has played big Premier League opposition on many occasions, and usually to devastating effect.
In just six games against Arsenal, he has nine goals and two assists, while against Man City, he has seven goals and three assists in eight games.
Other frequent victims include Man United and Chelsea, against who Messi has registered 10 direct goal contributions in 16 games.
Interestingly, the 38-year-old has had far less success against Liverpool, scoring just twice in four games.