I can see a scenario where Pep wouldn't want Messi, he's so close to winning the lot without him, if Messi comes and we get the sweep it becomes Pep can only win the champions league with Messi. Can imagine a thought process where he would want that monkey off his back. it would be a completely different scenario had we beaten Chelsea.
However this is where khaldoon earns his crust, we've had countless pages about the supposed marketability of Grealish, Messi is on another planet with what he brings, for that alone you bring him in.
Any club that signs him is going to see a monumental increase in revenue, so aswell as having the best player on the planet you have the revenue to improve the squad for the next few years too. you have to try everything in your power to be the club that benefits from that. If he ends up in the Premier league and it isn't City, they take our crown even if we get Grealish and Kane.
Mind bogglingly stupid not to be in for him. City, Chelsea, Liverpool and United should have everybody on an all nighter tonight trying to come up with the most attractive proposal for Messi.