Manchester City are enduring a difficult run, having lost eight, drawn two, and won just one of their last 11 fixtures. Their struggles began with a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham in the EFL Cup Round of 16, which exposed weaknesses in a City side already missing Rodri. The loss against Spurs followed a 1-2 defeat to Bournemouth and a heavy 1-4 loss to Sporting CP.
City’s poor form continued domestically, with defeats to Brighton and Tottenham. A 3-3 draw against Feyenoord in the Champions League offered some hope, but a 0-2 loss to Liverpool at Anfield quickly extinguished it. A 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest temporarily lifted spirits, but another 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace and back-to-back losses to Juventus and Manchester United left Guardiola searching for answers.
In the wake of Rodri’s absence, Guardiola is reportedly exploring a bold move to strengthen his squad. According to Tuttosport, the City manager is interested in signing Argentine superstar Lionel Messi on a six-month loan deal during the upcoming winter transfer window.
Messi, who currently plays for Inter Miami, joined the club in July 2023 and has had an impressive stint, scoring 34 goals and providing 18 assists in 39 matches. Despite his ongoing contract with the MLS side, reports suggest that co-owner David Beckham is unlikely to stand in the way of a potential loan move, which would see Messi return to Europe temporarily to help City recover from their slump.
This move, should it materialize, would not only address the leadership vacuum left by Rodri’s injury but could provide Guardiola with a game-changing player as he seeks to turn around City’s fortunes.
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