Emmanuel Petit, the former Barca man, feels, Manchester City, Manchester United and other premier league clubs should not sign Lionel Messi. Petit also compared Barcelona star with Ronaldo and opined that he is not built for Premier League. Emmanuel Petit has spent three years at Arsenal and Chelsea with a year at Barcelona.
Messi’s future has been thrown into doubt after last few days media drama, fueled by Messi very publicly calling out Sporting Director Eric Abidal. The controversy surely had some effect on the team dynamics and performance in recent time. Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba made a public statement on how these media circus would not help Barcelona.
Though in some media reports, it is said that the Barcelona legend would stay till his terms is completed at Camp Nou in 2021, speculations refused to die down as Messi has a clause in his contract, which allows him to walk free at the end of every season.
Emmanuel Petit said: “Honestly, I don’t think he’s suited to the intensity of England. He doesn’t like being closed down and being fought.” On his playing in La Liga, Petit added, “In Spain, he’s protected.”
On Messi in Premier League
“It would be a pleasure for English fans to see him, but I don’t see why a club like Manchester City, for example, would move for Messi at 32 or 33. If City wanted to buy him, they should have tried to do it a couple of years ago.”
Comparison with Cristiano Ronaldo
“Messi is not Cristiano Ronaldo. Physically, he’s not the same machine. Ronaldo is a monster, but, at 32, Messi has only one or two more years playing at the highest level.”
On current Messi Performance
“Even playing alongside great players at Barca, he won’t have the same pace or the dribbling ability. I’m sure he knows the end is not far away.”
On Messi playing at Camp Nou next season
Petit added: “With the Eric Abidal and Lionel Messi situation, it all depends on what happens in the next transfer window… When you add in the investigation into medical procedures involving Abidal and the club, it has all contributed to his image being slightly affected.”
On Abidal failure to get Xavi on board
“Abidal has also had recent trouble with Xavi, who’s a legend at Barca. It was hard to understand what was going on there, with talk of Xavi joining as manager — it was all very unclear. Seeing Xavi’s reaction afterwards, it showed that there’s a lack of communication and that someone is lying.
“Something similar has happened with Messi. We’re not used to Messi speaking out on social media in such a manner. Usually, he’s very quiet, so clearly he must be very upset.”
On Barcelona dynamics
“If you look at Abidal’s place in all this, I’m sure the club will be looking ahead to the next transfer window and looking at his responsibility for it.”
Petit knows how the politics work at Barcelona off the pitch and, on it, he has been less than impressed in recent weeks with the form that led to Ernesto Valverde’s sacking last month. “
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