PHOTOS: Fans watch ‘Lionel Messi playing dhol’ in Manchester | Screenshot | Photo credit: Twitter
Key points
- Lionel Messi has been linked with a move to both Manchester clubs: City and United
- A resemblance to Messi was seen in Manchester supporting the Pakistan cricket team on Tuesday
- The man was playing a dhol outside the Old Trafford cricket ground during England vs Pakistan 3rd T20I
Manchester City might be the favorites to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona after the superstar footballer decided to terminate his contract with Barcelona, but it was another ‘Messi’ who was seen playing dhol outside of Manchester during the third Q20 of England vs Pakistan. Cricket fans shared images of a Messi look-alike on social media after a man like the Argentine arrived outside the Old Trafford cricket ground on Tuesday.
Speculation about Messi’s next fate has abounded since the six-time Ballon d’Or winner decided to prematurely end his association with Barcelona, a club he has been playing for for nearly two decades. Both Manchester clubs City and United are reportedly keen to take advantage of Messi’s services, while some other high-spending clubs across Europe are also in the fray.
While nothing has been decided on the 33-year-old’s future, some fans were left in a state of delirium to see the resemblance of Messi wearing the Pakistan national team jersey with a dhol around his neck outside Old Trafford. in Manchester. A closer look at the person was enough to dispel all those doubts.
However, jokes about Messi’s landing in Manchester spread on social media shortly after the man was spotted.
With fans not allowed inside the stadium due to COVID-19 restrictions, there have been a number of instances where fans have gathered outside the stadiums to cheer on their team and celebrate their achievements.
The Messi-like prayers also seem to have worked well for his team as Pakistan defeated England in the third and final Q20 of the series to win their first game of the tour. The result meant that Pakistan drew 1-1 in the 3-game series.
It was the first cricket assignment for the Pakistan national team since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Previously, Pakistan suffered a 1-0 loss to England in Tests, which was their first series loss in the longest format against the English in the last 10 years.
