Guardiola calls Messi the GOAT as he anticipate his Barcelona return

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has described his former player Lionel Messi as the greatest of all time.

Guardiola made the comment as he weighed in on the latest reports of Messi’s potential return to Barcelona this summer. 

The future of the Argentina World Cup hero in Paris Saint-Germain has been the subject of intense speculation, with reports linking him with a return to Spain. 

However, his father and agent, Jorge Messi, was forced earlier this week to debunk reports that his son and client had signed a deal with Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal.

Just two years after he left Camp Nou for Paris due to financial difficulties at Barcelona, Messi could be set for a sensational return to the club. 

Vice President, Rafa Yuste mentioned earlier this year that the club has been in touch with the legendary forward for a possible reunion. 

Former Barcelona manager, Guardiola, has added his voice on the possible return of Messi, with the Spaniard saying that it will be impossible for his former star. 

According to the City boss, a return to Barcelona may be difficult for Messi, who he says is the greatest of all time, but he adds that the 35-year-old deserves a proper farewell. 

"I'm a Barcelona fan, I've got my tickets [at Camp Nou], and I just hope that one day we can say goodbye to him as he deserves," Guardiola told ESPN. "He's the greatest player of all time.

"In the last 12 years or so, Barcelona had a 'boom' and that wouldn't have been possible without him. And I'm not talking about numbers, but rather his involvement in the play, his beauty, his efficiency, his efficiency, everything."

Speaking further, the former Bayern Munich boss added;

"I never would have thought that it would end as it did," Guardiola added. "I'm convinced what president [Joan] Laporta loves Leo, and since he left, he has said [Messi] deserves to have a farewell for the important figure that he is.

"Leo helped our club [Barcelona] become much greater than when he arrived. When a person is so big, you have to say goodbye in the right way. He left because of very difficult financial circumstances, for thousands of reasons that I'm not going to get into.

Guardiola coached Messi at Spotify Camp Nou from 2008 until 2012, winning three LaLiga titles and two Champions Leagues.