Wayne Rooney believes Lionel Messi could win Ballon d'Or number seven if he joins Manchester City or Manchester United - but claims Thiago Alcantara to Liverpool would be a better signing.
Messi has informed Barcelona he wants to leave the club and City are one of the favourites to sign the Argentina star.
Few clubs are considered capable of putting together a package to tempt Messi to join them, but United, Inter and Paris Saint-Germain are among those said to have the necessary financial clout to make the move possible.
Former Red Devils captain Rooney thinks Messi would thrive if he moved to either of the Manchester clubs, insisting the 33-year-old is a "different level" even to his former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, Rooney thinks Liverpool will effectively have their title defence secured if they manage to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago.
He told talkSPORT: "I think it is City or Liverpool [for the title].
"Chelsea are making a lot of signings, some good signings. Man United have a lot of potential in the players they have got but I still think they are a year away.
"Chelsea, with the new signings, will possibly need a year to get everyone on the same song sheet.
"So, I do think it is between City and Liverpool. And if Liverpool get Thiago from Bayern Munich, I think it is done [the title]. That is a better signing than Messi going to Man City."
