Messi to Pep: I want to win the next two Ballon d'Or, I can only do it with you

Lionel Messi called his former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola to tell him he can only win the next two Ballon d'Or awards if he works under him at Manchester City.

That's the verdict of Cristobal Soria, who exclusively revealed the details of the pair's phone call.

"Here's what happened," he said, talking on the 'El Chiringuito de Jugones' programme.

"Last Tuesday, once Messi had decided to leave Barcelona, his first thought was Manchester City and to speak to Guardiola.

"The call happened, and Messi said to Pep: 'I want to win the next two Ballon d'Or awards, and I can only do that with you.'

"This is the killer phrase that Messi used," Soria said, repeating it twice.