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.Messi decided to leave Barcelona in the summer of 2018, Manchester City is the club that has the best chances of obtaining his services. In addition to the growing potential of the playing staff, there is Pep Guardiola's presence on the bench, Txiki Begiristain as director of football and Ferran Soriano as executive director. It's an undoubted incentive for the Argentinian who worked with them for four, seven and five seasons respectively.
In September, a Barcelona newspaper reported that Guardiola had telephoned Messi and Neymar to try to make his move, something the coach denied on October 18, the day before the Catalans' 4-0 win at the Camp Nou. "I did not call Messi, I want him to finish his career here [in Barcelona]," Guardiola said at the time. "But just the same, the kid might want a change, for his children, to learn English, or for a new experience. "If he decides to leave, there will be a list of 4-6 clubs that will want to sign him in. "But that will be decided by him, not me or anyone else." That same day, Soriano echoed his coach's words. "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." A few words that were listened to with nervousness by the Blaugrana directors, aware that it was Messi himself that left the door open.
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