In news that will shock Barcelona supporters, reports in England suggest that Manchester City are preparing to submit an offer of 233 million euros to acquire the services of Lionel Messi.
Playing for Pep Guardiola in an emerging City side, along with the presence of sporting director Txiki Begiristain and executive director Ferran Soriano, is an undoubted incentive for the Argentinian who is yet to sign a new contract with the Catalans.
According to The Mirror, the Citizens are willing to put 200 million pounds (233m euros) on the table.
This breaks down to 116 million euros for the transfer, while Messi himself would want 30m euros a year (about 600,000 euros per week) for four seasons - an astronomical outlay.
Messi's current contract ends contract in 2018 and has a 250m euro release clause, and as MARCA already announced, the No.10 told Barcelona in July that - for the moment - he didn't want to renew with the club.
If he does decide to leave, City is the club that has the best chances of signing him, and Soriano only stoked the fires in a recent interview.
"It would be natural for Messi to finish his career at Barcelona," he said to RAC1.
"He will decide, but if he calls us one day we will open the door for him immediately."
In fact, the Mirror believes that the presence of Guardiola on the bench is the deciding factor and what would seal the deal.
Playing for Pep Guardiola in an emerging City side, along with the presence of sporting director Txiki Begiristain and executive director Ferran Soriano, is an undoubted incentive for the Argentinian who is yet to sign a new contract with the Catalans.
According to The Mirror, the Citizens are willing to put 200 million pounds (233m euros) on the table.
This breaks down to 116 million euros for the transfer, while Messi himself would want 30m euros a year (about 600,000 euros per week) for four seasons - an astronomical outlay.
Messi's current contract ends contract in 2018 and has a 250m euro release clause, and as MARCA already announced, the No.10 told Barcelona in July that - for the moment - he didn't want to renew with the club.
If he does decide to leave, City is the club that has the best chances of signing him, and Soriano only stoked the fires in a recent interview.
"It would be natural for Messi to finish his career at Barcelona," he said to RAC1.
"He will decide, but if he calls us one day we will open the door for him immediately."
In fact, the Mirror believes that the presence of Guardiola on the bench is the deciding factor and what would seal the deal.
