MESSI FINISH Petit: He’s not a machine like Ron

EXCLUSIVE

DAILY STAR SUNDAY, February 9, 2020

BOTH Manchester City and Manchester United should forget about signing Barcelona star Lionel Messi — because he isn’t built for the Premier League like Cristiano Ronaldo was.

That’s the view of top-flight title winner Emmanuel Petit, a man who spent three years at both Arsenal and Chelsea with a year at Barca in between.

He said: “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.

“It would be a pleasure for English fans to see him but I don’t see why a club like Man 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 is not the same machine.

“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’s future has been thrown into doubt following a falling out with Barca sporting director

Eric Abidal and the revelation that he can walk away from the Nou

Camp for nothing in the summer thanks to a clause in his contract.

Petit added: “With the Eric Abidal and Lionel Messi situation, it all depends on the next transfer window. “We’re not used to Messi speaking out on social media, he must be upset.

“I’m sure the club will be looking ahead to the next window and looking at Abidal’s responsibility.”