RONALD KOEMAN OPENS UP ON LIONEL MESSI'S BARCELONA FUTURE AFTER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EXIT
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Pablo Zabaleta can see Barcelona star Lionel Messi linking up with Sergio Aguero next season - but not at Manchester City.
Messi has been linked with City ever since he told Barca bosses he wanted to leave the Nou Camp in last summer's transfer window.
Such a move would make sense in some ways - he would be reunited with his former mentor Pep Guardiola at the Etihad, while City are one of the few clubs who might be able to afford his astronomical wages.
Meanwhile, Aguero has been tipped to move in the opposite direction after being linked with a switch to Barcelona.
With Messi also out of contract next summer, the Catalan giants will be doing all they can to persuade the 33-year-old to stay.
© REUTERSArgentina stars Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi could be reunited
And that could mean new Barca president Joan Laporta luring Aguero to the La Liga giants, according to Zabaleta.
The 36-year-old has played with both men for Argentina, and of course won two Premier League titles with Aguero at City.
And he suggested a move to the Nou Camp could be the best option for his former club-mate, who made his second start in four games against Fulham on Saturday.
"Messi is in his last year of contract," Zabaleta told told Forever Blue . " There were elections last Sunday and a new president; all he [Laporta] wants is to convince Messi to stay.
© Getty ImagesPablo Zabaleta and Sergio Aguero won two Premier League titles together
"One of the reasons to keep Messi is to bring Sergio to Barcelona. A few weeks ago, it was Messi to Man City because Sergio was there and it could be good for Messi to be reunited and to work with people he knows from Barcelona before.
"It's very difficult, there's a lot of media speculation. Sometimes when people ask me about what I think about these situations, I just try to think about what could be the best option for one of them, if they make a decision."
Zabaleta said whatever decision Messi makes on his future, it needs to be respected.
© Richard Calver/REX/ShutterstockZabaleta reckons Barcelona signing Aguero could tempt Messi to stay
The Argentine ace has spent his entire career at Barcelona - inspiring them to 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League triumphs among a huge trophy haul.
"We all need to respect and accept the decisions that they make at the end of the season, even for Lionel Messi - he's spent his whole life at Barcelona, it would be very strange to see Lionel Messi leave Barca. We all expect him to stay and never leave Barca.
"Nobody expected Barca to go into administration and to have problems with payments or big problems off the field that could make Messi want to leave the club."