According to reports from The Sun, Manchester City are in talks with Lionel Messi over a move to the Premier League that would see him pocket £800k per week.
The Argentina international is one of the greatest footballers of all time, having won a record four Ballon d’Ors and four Champions League titles by the relatively tender age of 28, whilst becoming the leading goal scorer in both La Liga and Barcelona history.
But reports over the last few months have suggested his Nou Camp career could soon come to an abrupt end, as Neymar’s importance to the Catalans’ cause continues to grow and Messi, alongside his father Jorge, face trial over tax fraud that could result in jail time.
That saw him linked with Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City last month, who all allegedly ‘made contact’ with the world-class forward.
But it appears the Citizens are more motivated than their Premier League rivals in their pursuit of the Barcelona star. According to The Sun, they’re in talks over a deal that would see Messi take home a £40million salary, funded by a new television deal that will see Premier League champions take home around £150million per season.
They’re hoping that attaining Messi’s signature will also attract long-term management target Pep Guardiola to the Etihad. Messi flourished into world football’s leading entity under the Spaniard, who took the helm at Bayern Munich in 2013 following four years as Barca boss and a twelve-month sabbatical.