Pep Guardiola: Lionel Messi will stay at Barcelona, that's my wish

The public 'war of words' between the two Barcelona greats has been the trending topic among fans ever since.

It was a shocker for everyone as Lionel Messi hit back at former Barcelona and current sporting director Eric Abidal causing a public feud. It all began when the latter, in an interview criticised the players' approach during Ernesto Valverde's time at the club. Several other pundits and coaches spoke upon the feud including Peter Crouch and Pep Guardiola. After all, it isn't something that either the club or anyone outside it had expected to happen. However, that led to Lionel Messi establish links with a whopping transfer to Manchester City. Yet, Pep Guardiola being a former Barcelona manager, expressed that he would like Lionel Messi to stay at Barcelona. [KH_ADWORDS type="4" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] "He will stay there at Barca, that's my wish," said the Spanish tactician. Interestingly, Messi, whose contract at his boyhood club ends in 2022, has a clause that allows him to leave on a free transfer next summer. Naturally, the thought of one of the greatest to be in the sport joining City excites the fans. However, as it stands, the move still looms large and looks highly unlikely. Despite the strong permutations and combinations in favour of the Premier League defending champions! Moreover, Pep Guardiola insists Lionel Messi will not move away from the Camp Nou. "I think he will finish his career there." Furthermore, former Premier League legend and TV pundit Peter Crouch also reiterated on Messi's stature at Barcelona. [KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News | Article Continues Below"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS] "My intention is to return one day to see Lionel Messi playing live again and for all the talk of him moving to the Premier League this week, I don't for one minute think that is realistic," said Crouch. "It would be wonderful if he came to the Premier League - his arrival here would be the greatest signing of this era - but for all the turmoil that they are experiencing, there is only one place for him to play football." "Messi was made for Barcelona and Barcelona was made for him," concludes Crouch.