Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola would reportedly welcome Lionel Messi at the Etihad if the Barcelona superstar one day decides to leave the Spanish top flight to seek new challenges, the recent football news and rumors revealed.

Guardiola and Messi had worked together as coach and player in Barcelona from 2008 to 2012 and won three La Liga titles. Their partnership also produced two Copa del Reys, three Supercopa de España trophies, and two UEFA Champions League titles, just to name a few.

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However, Guardiola and Messi were on opposite sides during Wednesday evening's Champions League group match between City and Barça where the latter crushed Guardiola's squad, 4-0, at the Camp Nou.

Messi scored a hat trick to lead the Catalan giants during the game, showing that England's current number one is no match for Spain's defending champions.

Before the match, Guardiola denied the rumors that he tried to recruit his former players to join him at City in the Premier League, particularly the five-time Ballon d'Or awardee Messi, as per SkySports.

He did disclose, though, that he would be one of the many potential suitors to pursue the Argentina international should he "decide on a change of scenery."

"I didn't call Leo Messi," said Guardiola. "Because my greatest wish is for him to finish his career here (Barcelona)."

"But eventually, one day, the kid may decide to play elsewhere," he added. "Maybe because he wants his sons to learn English, or to live a new experience, like it has happened to many of us in the past. That is a possibility."

"But if one day he decides to do so, and I wish it won't happen, but if it happens there will be a list of four, five people and clubs wanting to sign him," Guardiola continued.

Guardiola then clarified that it was a different case when it came to Barcelona goalkeepers Claudio Bravo and Marc-Andre ter Stegen as the two players were the one who approached him for a possible transfer, as per The Guardian.

TagsFootball News & Rumors, Football News & Rumors 2016, Pep Guardiola, Manchester City, lionel messi, FC Barcelona