Man City set to offer Messi £450 million five year deal that includes stint at New York City

Manchester City are preparing a huge offer in their bid to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona, with the club set to offer the six-time Ballon d’Or winner a contract worth £450m over five years, including a stint at New York City.

Messi’s future has emerged as the story of the summer with the forward having informed Barcelona of his desire to leave the club, the world’s finest footballer keen to quit Catalonia following a turbulent period at the Camp Nou.

The Argentina international has effectively gone on strike over his desire to force an exit, failing to turn up at the club’s training ground for coronavirus tests ahead of pre-season training, whilst he remains in a legal dispute with the Barcelona hierarchy over a clause in his contract allowing him to depart on a free transfer.

Widespread reports have indicated that Man City are leading the race for the player’s signature with Messi keen on a reunion with former Barcelona boss, Pep Guardiola, in the Premier League, with Spanish publication Sport now claiming the Etihad outfit are now preparing a mega-money offer.

Sport are reporting that City are prepared to offer Messi a deal worth £450m over five seasons, the forward spending three seasons in English football before moving to MLS with sister club New York City.

BOOM!
Manchester City would be ready to pay 500m€ after taxes to Messi in 5 years!

Messi would earn 50m€ per year + according to paper Sport a staggering 250m€ bonus after 3 years moving to New York City in last 2 years

— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) August 30, 2020

Much depends on the verdict of Messi’s dispute with Barcelona, the Spanish giants claiming the clause in his contract – allowing him to walk away for nothing if he decides this summer – has now expired, whilst La Liga have insisted the player’s €700m release clause remains valid.

It looks increasingly likely that the career of Barcelona’s greatest ever player may end in ugly circumstances, with City waiting in the wings to conclude a historic transfer and bring the reigning Ballon d’Or winner to English football.

Read – Picking the best Barcelona XI of the Lionel Messi era