They're already a prime candidate to win the premier league but one player is never going to guarantee you results. Messi didn't win Barca the La Liga or stop them getting stuffed by Bayern this year. Messi's style of play may not fit in well with the Premier League as well. No idea how he's going to fair in such a league. He's really not going to like a lot of the tough tackles and I think a lot of players will give him a hard time just to prove a point or because they think he's a primadonna. Regardless, I'd still like to see him at City and I do think he would be a huge boost to their team. I really just can't see him leaving Barca though. I think this is just a huge power play by him. Apparently the new manager allegedly said to him he wasn't going to get any special treatment and maybe that caused him to throw is toys out of the pram. I'm sure there will just be a huge shake up behind the scenes and Messi getting his own way and subsequently staying put. It's just going to be too messy otherwise (excuse the pun). There will probably be a long legal battle if he does try to leave especially since the clause in his contract that allows him to leave has allegedly expired, but who knows what that means due to the extension of the league due to coivd. City won't be able to stump up the fee Barca want otherwise so the only option is him likely going there for free.