MANCHESTER City are ready to offer Lionel Messi an incredible £450million over five years if he leaves Barcelona, reports claims.
The 33-year-old – who has one year left on his contract at the Nou Camp – expressed his desire to depart Catalonia after the club were humiliated by Bayern Munich.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester CityCredit: AP:Associated Press
And the Citizens are believed to be in pole position to sign the Argentinian international, where he’d be reunited with Pep Guardiola.
Speculation regarding his future intensified over the weekend after Messi snubbed coronavirus testing in Barcelona.
There has even been talk that Messi has spoke to Guardiola where he told him he believes he can win two Ballon d’Or titles at the Etihad.
And now Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri has claimed that City are ready to pay Messi £450million over five years.
He even suggested that the club would pay him a £225m bonus after three years in England, where he would then join sister club New York City.
Palmeri didn’t state how much City would pay Barca in order to secure his services.
He tweeted: “Boom. Manchester City would pay Messi €500m (£446m) net for 5 years!
“The salary would be €50m (£44.6m) per season, but after 3 years at the City there would be a €250m (£223m) bonus moving the last two years to New York City!”
Palmeri also told his 203,000 followers that Messi’s father Jorge will meet with Barca chief Josep Maria Bartomeu this week to discuss his future.
He said: “Barcelona president Bartomeu and Messi’s father to meet on Wednesday.”
Messi had been hoping to leave the club on a free transfer this summer due to a clause in his contract, but LaLiga have dismissed his claim, keeping his £630m release clause intact.
Spanish media have stated that City are lining up an £89.5m bid for Messi, while also offering Barca Bernardo Silva, Gabriel Jesus and Eric Garcia.
Lionel Messi already in contact with Pep Guardiola as Man City lead transfer race for wantaway Barcelona superstar
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
