The Messi-Guardiola Relationship Is Not Always Beautiful

Lionel Messi and Pep Guardiola (Instagram @leomessi)

JAKARTA - Manchester City is leading the hunt to bring in Lionel Messi from Barcelona this summer.

One of the main reasons behind the Argentine's desire to move to the Etihad Stadium was the opportunity to work with Pep Guardiola again.

The pair did very well during their time together at Barcelona. They won 14 trophies, including two Champions Leagues, in just four years at Camp Nou.

On an individual level, Messi also won three Ballon d'Or trophies, two European Golden Boots and two Pichichi trophies between 2008 and 2012.

However, the relationship between Guardiola and Messi was not always beautiful. The Catalan coach decided to leave in 2012 when he was at the top with Barcelona.

"I left before anyone got hurt," Guardiola said at the time without referring to Messi or anyone in particular.

Messi was the only senior figure in the first-team squad not to attend Guardiola's break with Los Blaugrana - Carles Puyol, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Victor Valdes, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Busquets and Pedro were all there.

It is said that his absence was due to 'big emotions' surrounding the situation and he wanted to stay away from the press.

However, Messi's inconvenience was interpreted as evidence of how his relationship with Guardiola had changed.

The previous September, Messi was reserved for the Barcelona match at home to Real Sociedad. Messi previously played for Argentina during the international break.

Guardiola's decision to rest Messi may not be wrong because he doesn't want Messi to be exhausted. But the player, always competitive, didn't speak to his coach for days afterward.

Towards the end of the 2011-2012 season, Messi also questioned several choices of Guardiola's team, including the inclusion of Cristian Tello and Isaac Cuenca in crucial matches against Real Madrid and Chelsea.

The arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the summer of 2010 was also a cause of disagreement between Messi and his boss. When Guardiola left Barcelona in 2012, Messi and Zlatan stopped talking to each other.

"I haven't been in contact with Pep since he left," Messi said in 2015.

Now, their paths could cross again in Manchester, as tensions between them eased with the passage of time. Not because of meetings and heart-to-heart talks.

But above all, Messi must first find a way out of Barcelona. And Josep Maria Bartomeu doesn't make it that easy.