LIONEL MESSI has reportedly been offered a £285k-a-week deal by French money bags Paris Saint-Germain.
The Argentine magician, 34, is a free agent after his shock Barcelona exit earlier this week.
PSG are leading the race to sign the football great and boss Mauricio Pochettino confirmed talks are ongoing.
Now it’s been reported that Messi and his father Jorge are awaiting an official contract offer from the French side this weekend.
Fabrizio Romano reported that PSG will offer 35 million Euros in a two-year deal.
And that works out to £285k-a-week with an option to extend until 2024.
That means he would be paid less than Manchester City are forking out to Jack Grealish – who they paid £100m for from Aston Villa on a £300k-a-week deal.
His last contract at Barcelona was reportedly worth just shy of an incredible £500million.
Messi is close to signing for the French giants in what would be one of the biggest transfers of all time.
It was announced on Thursday evening that the 34-year-old Argentine would not be renewing his contract with Barcelona, ending his 20-year spell at the club.
And less than 24 hours after Barca’s official statement PSG are said to have made major progress in securing Messi on a free transfer.
Romano reported earlier this week: “Paris Saint-Germain have been the only club to approach Leo and Jorge Messi directly since Thursday evening – not using intermediary.
“Dressing room also ‘convinced’ that Leo’s coming.
“Messi PSG contract proposal will include an option to extend the agreement until 2024.”
Messi moving to PSG would undoubtedly please his former Barcelona team-mate Neymar.
The South American pair were said to be very close both on and off the field during their time together at the Catalan giants.
Boss Pochettino insisted on Friday that a deal for Messi would not mean star striker Kylian Mbappe has to leave the club.
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Speaking in a press conference, Poch said: “I have not spoken with [Messi]. And [any move] would not mean that Kylian would leave.
“A player of Messi’s calibre, that is what is interesting to me. The club are working on several options, but we must focus on the game with Troyes [on Saturday].
“We know about what happened yesterday.
“The club is working on the transfer window and on the elements that could come in to improve the team and allow us to achieve our goals.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
