Which of Messi, Pogba, Pique & Alaba Can Manchester City Actually Purchase?
Manchester City seems ready to do everything it can to lure Pep Guardiola to the Etihad Stadium. How will it accomplish this feat? With a massive purchase of superstars that include Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba, Gerard Pique and David Alaba.
It is not hard to see why the club would want these players at the club, but the real question comes down to this - is it plausible that the team could ever get any of them?
Messi is undeniably the toughest one to consider, especially given his history at Barcelona and his expensive buyout clause (according Bleacher Report it is an estimated 250 million euros!). Moreover, is the club ever going to give the deal a look? Messi has stated his unhappiness with being Spain, as his taxation issues have been a major distraction for him.
Moreover, he may be looking for a new challenge with which to finish out his prime years. Barcelona, knowing that Neymar and Luis Suarez are more than capable of carrying the club, may look to cash in on Messi before his decline starts in the next few season.
Throw in Messi's previous work with Guardiola (and Messi's friendship with City forward Sergio Aguero) and it could make a lot of sense for both sides.
Ditto for Pique. The defender is unpredictable, undergoing a season far less successful than his 2014-15 campaign. He has experience in the Premier League and could see a chance to return to Manchester to finish out his days. That said, Pique might be reticent to go to City after starting his days at Manchester United.
Pogba is destined to be one of the greatest soccer players on the planet when he reaches his prime and his utility as a player makes him invaluable to a Manchester City side that is looking to retool its midfield. Juventus will not sell him on the cheap, but the Italian team, which has struggled throughout the current campaign might look to cash in on him as well before the player forces a move and the club is left with little leverage in a transaction. Paris Saint-Germain might also be interested in Pogba and City might be forced into a bidding war that Juventus will simply not ignore.
Then comes the fact that Pogba might be enticed to develop his game under Guardiola, who has a reputation of getting players to develop and progress to previously unknown potential. Just look at his Barcelona teams of yore and his current Bayern Munich where players have thrived in positions they never previously took on.
As for Alaba, that might be the easiest of the bunch to purchase for the club. Alaba has had a great relationship with Guardiola at Bayern Munich and has flourished as a multi-talented player. He can play defense and has developed the offensive potential of his game under the Catalan club. He might be tempted to head to London with Guardiola, giving the coach yet another player he is comfortable taking on.
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