The reason Messi didn't move to Manchester City: Rain and Burnley's tough game

It's hard to find a bigger fan of Lionel Messi than Pep Guardiola.

Lent.az reports with reference to foreign media that the head coach of Manchester City never misses an opportunity to praise the former Barcelona striker. In Pep's eyes, no one can compare to the legendary Argentine.

In 2021, Messi unexpectedly left Barcelona. When it was not yet known that he would go to PSG, the press wrote that he would go to Manchester City. This did not happen, and years later the reason was revealed by Sean Dyche, the former head coach of Burnley and Everton.

As the Premier League eased coronavirus restrictions, coaches were finally able to socialize more. Sean Dyche, Steve Bruce (then Newcastle coach) and Pep Guardiola were together. The first addressed the third.

"I asked: "What about Messi?" and he (Guardiola - ed.) said: "Sean, Steve, I'll tell you that he told me he would never go to Manchester City because it rains here and as soon as it stops, it starts again."

Then he added: "Lionel, on Monday night you will go to Burnley, to Sean's team. And they will kick, kick, kick, kick." At that moment, Bruce was already crying!

Then he added: "Lionel, on Monday night you have to go to Burnley, Sean's team. And they will hit, hit, hit, hit." At that moment, Bruce was already crying!"

Sean Dyche did not hesitate and, in response to Guardiola's joke, confirmed Burnley's style.

"I said: "We're going to do it too, Pep. You warned him correctly." Bruce and I were crying, to be honest, you are a genius."

"I said: "Pep, that's what we're going to do. You warned him correctly." Bruce and I cried, to be honest. It was genius. Pep, you are amazing."

Dyche was excited about the prospect of Messi appearing at Burnley, adding: "Imagine him turning up at Turf Moor and saying, "What the hell?" The rain is pouring like from a bucket, the wind is blowing and they are kicking his feet."
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The former Burnley coach is a well-known prankster. At one of the press conferences, he deliberately whispered into the microphone that Messi had agreed to join his team. Then he pretended that the journalists shouldn't hear it.