The Liverpool legend has also said that he could see Messi play for Manchester United.
Souness, who now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, made the comments in the wake of Barcelona’s humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Messi struggled to make an impact on the game, although the Argentina international forward tried his best and tried to make things happen.
Souness wrote in The Times: “Lionel Messi looked like a man who has had enough of carrying that team; without him they wouldn’t even be good enough to qualify for the Champions League.
“This would be the perfect week to put a bid in for the 33-year-old Argentinian and I could easily see him playing in Manchester — at either United or City. For now, however, he has left the stage to others, as have City.”
Unlikely Barcelona exit this summer
Barcelona need a rebuild now and need fresh faces to take the club forward.
It is hard to see the La Liga giants win the Champions League in the next two seasons, and Messi is now 33 years old.
However, it is unlikely that the Argentine will leave the Blaugrana in the summer transfer window.
Messi has been at Camp Nou his entire professional club football career and is a leader in the team.
The Argentine will surely want to take Barcelona back to their glory days and will want to leave the club in a better place instead of leaving during this tough period.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
