He Manchester City was the protagonist of one of the most striking stories of the transfer market when he tried, in an almost anecdotal way, to get closer to Lionel Messi in 2008. This was reported by Mark Bowen, a former member of the English club’s coaching staff, when remembering a period marked by improvisation and lack of structure before the arrival of the new owner.
In that summer, the City It tried to gain visibility by launching generic offers for top-level players. The strategy involved presenting proposals of around 30 million euros for several prominent footballers, without a solid sports plan behind it, with the aim of testing the market.
Within that list appeared, almost surreally, the name of Messi, who was already a key piece of FC Barcelona. The proposal did not respond to a real negotiation, but to an impulsive movement that sought to generate an impact in a club still far from the European elite.
The reaction from Barcelona It didn’t take long to wait. The Barça president at the time responded forcefully, upset by what he considered a lack of respect towards the player and the institution, and made it clear that Messi was not for sale under any circumstances.
The episode remained as an anecdote that reflects the chaotic beginnings of Manchester City before its transformation into a world power. Messi continued his career in Barçawhere he ended up becoming a legend, while that “crazy offer” went down in history as a curiosity of modern football.
