Lionel Messi's Barcelona future is in doubt following a row within the club
Argentine could depart on a free transfer this summer, with Man City interested
But former Barca midfielder Emmanuel Petit has warned champions off a deal
Petit claims Messi's game is ill-suited to the demands of the Premier League
Emmanuel Petit has warned Manchester City off signing Lionel Messi, claiming the Barcelona star does not have the physical capabilities to deal with the Premier League.

Messi's future at the Nou Camp looks uncertain following a row with sporting director Eric Abidal, and he could be available on a free transfer this summer as part of a clause in his contract.

But Petit, who played at Barca during the 2000-01 season in the middle of spells at Arsenal and Chelsea, claims that unlike Messi's sporting rival Cristiano Ronaldo, at 32 years old he could have as little as one season left in the top flight.

'We're talking about the best player in the world... a renewal is never easy': Eric Abidal casts doubt on Lionel Messi's Barcelona future amid pair's public spat over sacking of manager Ernesto Valverde
'Messi has every right to be angry with Abidal':

'Honestly, I don't think he's suited to the intensity of England. He doesn't like being closed down and being fought. In Spain, he's protected, he told the Mirror.

'It would be a pleasure for English fans to see him but I don't see why a club like Manchester City , for example, would move for Messi at 32 or 33.

'If City wanted to buy him, they should have tried to do it a couple of years ago. Messi is not Cristiano Ronaldo. Physically, he's not the same machine.

Emmanuel Petit claims Messi does not have the physical strength shown by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo to succeed in the Premier League
'Ronaldo is a monster but, at 32, Messi has only one or two more years playing at the highest level.

'Even playing alongside great players at Barca, he won't have the same pace or the dribbling ability. I'm sure he knows the end is not far away.'

Messi and Abidal's fall-out came after the latter suggested that members of the squad were responsible for Ernesto Valverde losing his job as manager last month, much to the fury of the six-time Ballon d'Or winner.

There has been interest from City among a host of other teams, with Abidal even admitting that agreeing a new Messi deal brings with it complications.

Source https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7983589/Hes-not-Cristiano-Ronaldo-Manchester-City-NOT-Lionel-Messi-claims-Emmanuel-Petit.html

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