Yaya Toure doubts Messi will leave Barcelona

Yaya Toure has given his verdict of Lionel Messi’s future amid growing speculations linking the Argentinean with a shock Barcelona departure.

Manchester City and Inter Milan are rumored destinations, as Leo Messi looks to end his Barcelona misery.

The Premier League giants are said to be at the front of the queue, with the 33-year-old understood to favor a reunion with Pep Guardiola.

During an emergency meeting in the Camp Nou headquarters, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner reportedly informed newly-appointed Ronald Koeman of his desire to part ways with the club.

Rumors of Messi’s shock departure from Catalonia have intensified after Barcelona were dismantled 8-2 by the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The Argentina captain’s future at the ‘Blaugrana’ is hanging in the balance as has yet to lift the lid off his plans.

But, Yaya Toure, who shared the pitch with Messi during his three-year stint at Barca, believes the latter will hardly leave his boyhood club.

“It is going to be complicated,” Toure said, as relayed by the Daily Star. “From what I know, Messi loves Barcelona. He loves the city, he loves the club, he loves the philosophy there.

“But if he had to leave the club, maybe he could come to City. Why? Because City have the money to buy him and there are only a few clubs in the Premier League who can afford him, to be honest.

“If he comes to City, he is going to be good for City because the rest of the Premier League is quite intense and hard as well.”

Toure has also warned his ex-teammate that his playing style doesn’t suit the Premier League high tempo.

“The way Messi plays – I don’t think so. Few managers are going to love him because he just sits off to the side and does not want to defend much.

“In England – depending on who is going to criticize him for that – they want you to work, defend and attack, and it is not easy.”

Yet, the 37-year-old tips Messi to reunite with Pep Guardiola if he ends up leaving Barcelona.

“But if he came to England, I could see him playing for City because Guardiola knows him better and he could put him in this City team too to play his football.

“I have a little bit of doubt that he is going to leave Barcelona, to be honest. Barcelona all boils down to Messi. If Messi leaves, there is going to be a massive gap.”