Pep Guardiola reacts to Messi farewell and ‘record losses’ of €487 million

As the footballing world comes to grips with the news that Lionel Messi will no longer be a Barcelona player, former Catalans’ boss Pep Guardiola has given his two cents on the entire matter.

Barcelona confirmed on Thursday that Messi, whose contract with the club had expired in June, would not be re-signing due to the financial limitations and La Liga’s Fair Play rules.

Guardiola, currently the manager of Manchester City, played a crucial role in Messi’s elevation from a gifted youngster to a world-beater. The pair worked together at Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, writing history during that period with numerous titles and trophies.

Given his strong association with Barcelona, Guardiola opened up on Messi’s departure from Camp Nou, while also giving his opinion on the way the club was being run after president Joan Laporta confirmed that the Catalans were set to record losses of €487 million.

As quoted by SPORT, Guardiola said: “It’s come as a surprise for everyone. I think the president (Joan) Laporta has been clear about the reasons today.

“I haven’t spoken with the president or with the player, but when you have losses of €487 million, the decision is made. It’s important that the club is sustainable. And what’s happened in recent years at Barcelona has not been very good in that sense.”

Guardiola’s tribute to Messi

The Manchester City boss also took the occasion to thank Messi for his contributions to Barcelona as well as his own coaching career. Guardiola hailed the six-time Ballon d’Or winner as the most extraordinary player he had ever seen.

“I can only thank him because he made me a better coach. To be able to see what he does with the ball, with his teammates, whether in a game or training, was spectacular,” he said.

“Thanks (Messi) for making Barça dominate world football for a decade. I wish him the best, it won’t be forgotten what he did. I would have loved to see him retire at Barcelona, he’s the most extraordinary player I’ve seen in my lifetime.”

Man City to move for Messi?

Guardiola was also quizzed if Manchester City were plotting a move for the Argentina captain now that he had officially left Barcelona. The Premier League champions had been linked with the 34-year-old in the past, but the manager ruled his team out of the chase for Messi.

“We spent €40m on Jack if you take of the €60m we’ve made in sales and we have given him the No.10 shirt,” he said. “Messi is not in our plans.”