A conversation that ensued between Guardiola and Lionel Messi has seeped in defense of the City coach.

The talk has disclosed that Pe Guardiola counseled Lionel Messi not to leave the Blaugrana especially in a time where the team is in desperation.

Mundo Deportivo has reported that Messi reached out to the former Barca boss about his desire to unite with him in the Premier League but Guardiola advised the Argentine to halt such a decision discouraging that even if any team is interested in his service, the financial constraints caused by the novel coronavirus would make it impossible.

 The news outlet exposed that the 41-year-old told Messi that his buyout clause is too tough to be activated by any interested club therefore there is no need to persuade his move out of his boyhood club.

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Pep Guardiola played down any links with his former player and the six-time winner of the Ballon d’Or before the season ended yet his side has been identified as the possible destination for Lionel Messi, who seeks to reunite with the Spaniard.

"I’m not going to speak about transfers until the end of the season. My wish is that Messi is going to stay in Barcelona," he said during a pre match conference in July.

Messi has boycotted Barcelona’s pre-season training having already refused the COVID-19 testing for Barcelona players ahead of the new season.

The Blaugrana will not be involved in the opening weekend of the LaLiga Santander season.