How City could afford Messi

was interesting hearing how city could afford Messi's wages via increased sponsorship and image rights.

Good blog. Shows the possibilities. And may well be claimed as 'doping' by the dippers and the rest of them.
I want to see him at City. Just like Robinho, makes a hell of a statement.

Am I the only person that would rather we didn’t sign him?
I think it would upset the team dynamic, and I’d rather we looked at young players, rather than someone at the wrong end of his career. What message would it send to players like Phil?
I say we move on and leave well alone

I understand the reticence titbum but I think Foden will only get better playing alongside Messi for a year or 2
My biggest issue is his lack of effort off the ball,that would have to change for me as it simply can’t be allowed to be all about him as it is at Barcelona

That’s why I say it would upset the team dynamic. At his age he will not change the way he plays, and to have him strolling around off the ball would send a bad signal to the rest of the team.
As for Phil, how long does he have to watch from the sidelines? Yes he would learn from Messi, but he waited patiently, watching David Silva. I would hate for him to think ‘what’s the point of staying here if every time a better player becomes available they will jump ahead of me?’
I’d take a young Phil over an old Lionel every day of the week!

Ederson
Walker Ake Laporte Cancelo
DeBruyne Messi Foden
Sterling Aguero Torres

Hard to see how he fits in
It’s either at the expense of a DM or Aguero

Could we play a 3-4-3?
I'd have Messi on the right or 'floating' and share a spot between Foden/Torres/Bernardo and Mahrez.

.....Walker....Ake....Laporte
............Rodri/Gundagan
Torres....KDB...Foden....Sterling
.........Messi........Aguero


Looks good on paper but it won't happen.

Ooh that line-up does look good though Den!

And the beauty of it is, they will be extremely reluctant to challenge us on anything in future, knowing that we won’t roll over to be tickled by anybody.

Notice how Tebas is sticking his nose in. Aside from getting a double signing with Pep, just think how many of them it will piss off. Wonderful.

I heard, a few weeks back, that Pep would be extending.
I've also heard, yesterday, that City are so confident of landing Messi that they are already working on the promotional stuff for his arrival. Barca could still be real arses about this and shoot themselves in the foot rather than be pragmatic.

And so he is now staying at Barca!
Quelle surprise.