Manchester City on Friday denied reports of a massive £ 430million deal offer to Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi. There has been speculation about Messi’s future at the Nou camp since the 2020 summer transfer window, but rumors have grown since Barca beat Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 in the first leg of the round of 16.
The 33-year-old Messi asked Barcelona to allow him to leave the club but stood still after it was revealed that both Messi and Barca will face each other in court. With mediocre performance on the pitch under new head coach Ronald Koeman, Messi was able to end his long stay in Barcelona.
Manchester City is closely linked to Messi with Paris Saint-Germain, among others. But the English club has now declined reports of any contact with the Argentine maestro, be it last summer or now.
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According to media reports, Man City offered the 33-year-old a £ 600million five-year deal last summer but have now handed the Barca captain a new £ 430million package.
A Manchester City spokesman has denied these reports, insisting that no offers have been made.
Messi is Barcelona’s top-earning man with a mammoth £ 500,000 a week (£ 26 million a year) but took a wage cut in November as the Spanish giants battled the financial crisis.
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Messi looked frustrated as PSG beat Barcelona 4-1 in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League first leg of the last 16. Kylian Mbappe scored a hat trick, looking ahead to the present and the future.
Barcelona are also behind the Spanish giants in the LaLiga title race, who are currently nine points behind leaders Atletico Madrid. They were previously defeated 2-0 in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals in Seville.
