When Lionel Messi wants something, he usually gets it.
Former New York Red Bulls coach Hans Backe, who managed two of Messi’s former team-mates Rafael Marquez and Thierry Henry at the MLS club, told a story a few years ago about a disagreement between Messi and Pep Guardiola at Barcelona.
Apparently Messi was drinking a can of coke during a team meeting and Guardiola took issue with it, telling the Argentine not to drink sugary drinks, especially during team meetings.
Messi, allegedly, left the room, came back in with another can of coke, opened it and drank it in front of Guardiola and the team. The then Barcelona coach was essentially called out, his authority challenged, but could do little to stop his best player from doing what he wants.
And now Angel di Maria is the can of coke, and Manchester United are the powerless mortals who can do nothing to prevent the best player in the world from getting what he wants. According to The Sun anyway.
They’re reporting that Messi has told Barcelona to sign his international teammate, who has endured a difficult first season at Old Trafford. Di Maria signed for £59.7 million from Real Madrid, but lost his starting place towards the end of last season.
The winger has recently said he’d like to stay at the club, but only if he’s starting. Which would be an even greater problem if he was to join a club featuring Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.
In other Manchester United transfer news, the club are reportedly on the verge of signing Morgan Schneiderlin. The Southampton midfielder will cost an initial £20 million, has also being linked to Arsenal, is seen as a long-term replacement for Michael Carrick.
Schneiderlin has been open about his desire to leave Southampton. “I think my decision is made,” the France midfielder said recently. “The goal is to stay in England. It is a championship that I like and where I have a lot of fun.”
“Of course the Champions League is my goal. If I leave Southampton it will be for a club in the Champions League.”
The 25 year old has been on United’s radar for the past few months, but it appears the move has now materialised after the club missed out on reported targets like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ilkay Gundogan.
In non Manchester United transfer news, it looks as though West Ham are on the verge of another sweet deal. It emerged that Andy Carroll cost the club more than their new revamped Olympic stadium, and now the club are, according to The Daily Telegraph, about to sign Alex Song on a free transfer.
The Barcelona midfielder impressed on-loan at Upton Park, and was a reported target for Spurs and Chelsea, but the Hammers are about to sign Song for nothing.
Song joined Barcelona in 2012 from Arsenal, but failed to gain a starting place.
We should be thankful for the 27 year old’s time at the Nou Camp after it produced this fantastic vine.
https://twitter.com/I_Hate_Spurs/status/607273972087013376
Finally, Paul Pogba is reportedly “very excited” to join Barcelona. The Daily Mail have reported that Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta, says the club have a good relationship with the player’s agent Mino Rialoa, and is confident the Juventus midfielder will join in 2016 when their transfer ban is lifted.
“It would be one of the best signings,” Laporta a Catalan radio station. “Everyone believes that he would fit into this team.”
Laporta was Barcelona club president between 2003 and 2010, and famously pipped Manchester United to Ronaldinho the summer he was elected.
It looks as though he could beating a host of top clubs to the highly rated French midfielder.
