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Fascinating Pep Guardiola Analysis Explains Why Lionel Messi Walks At The Beginning Of Every Game

Fascinating Pep Guardiola Analysis Explains Why Lionel Messi Walks At The Beginning Of Every Game

Is this why Pep holds the key to Messi joining Manchester City?

Daniel Marland

Daniel Marland

A video of Pep Guardiola analysing exactly why Lionel Messi walks at the beginning of every game has emerged and it is fascinating.

Guardiola worked with Messi while Barcelona manager and the pair won three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues.

The Spaniard probably knows Messi better than any other coach and rejected any idea that the 33-year-old is 'lazy'.

"He's not out of the game. He's involved," the current Manchester City boss explains. "Moving his head.

"Right, left, left, right. He smells who is the weak point of the back four. After five, ten minutes, he has the map. He knows if I move here, here, I will have more space to attack."

While watching highlights of a game against bitter rivals Real Madrid in 2017, Guardiola then remarks: "Oh, that's genius! That is quite incredible. We are contemporary of that guy. So enjoy it. Lionel Messi, just simply one of a kind. He is so good."

Infographics appear to offer an insight into Messi's performance, in this case his view of defenders Marcelo and Sergio Ramos.

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PA

It's a theory shared by Twitter user @PausaFutbol, who claim the six-time Ballon d'Or winner's walking around is actually a way for the Blaugrana to hold territory.

Messi is actually claiming high value positions and since 2017, he's managed to maintain positions of high value 66% of the time.

For context, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta only manage to register 50% on the same scale.

Should Messi choose to leave Barcelona in the summer, it is a skill Guardiola would love to have at City.

The 49-year-old signed a two-year contract extension with the Premier League outfit on Thursday, keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until 2023.

Fans have speculated this could be a key moment in the Messi transfer saga, who was heavily linked with a sensational transfer a few months ago.

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PA

Messi still hasn't committed his future to Barcelona and recently admitted he's 'tired of always being the problem of everything at the club.'

Do you think Messi will join Guardiola at Manchester City next summer?

Featured Image Credit: Futotalvideos/Twitter

Topics: Football News, Football, Pep Guardiola, Barcelona, Transfers, Lionel Messi, Real Madrid