Papers: Man City can sign Messi if they can pay 500,000£ per week

The Messi transfer saga still is not settled. The Argentinian is yet to put pen to paper and extend his contract at Barcelona, and the rumours linking him to an exit are again on the table.

Last year, with the infamous ‘Burofax’, the Club captain’s first choice for his transfer was Manchester City, who later mentioned that they would not be able to pay for Lionel Messi, especially with the club demanding a transfer fee over a massive dispute as to whether he can leave for free at the end of that season.

There is little dispute over whether the Argentinian can leave at the end of this season: he can. If he chooses to not extend his contract, La Pulga will be free to leave the club. However, speculation as to whether Messi would leave has decreased in recent months, considering Barcelona finding form to compete on the highest level again.

Joan Laporta being elected president and promising to convince their captain to extend his contract, and with initial talks reportedly having gone well, it looks like the 6-time Ballon d’Or winner is closer to staying. Nothing has materialised as of yet, because the 33-year-old was allegedly waiting till the end of the season to make a decision over his future.

According to The Sun, Manchester City could sign the Argentine in case they can offer him 500,000£ per week at the Etihad. If reports were to be believed, in such case, the Barcelona captain is willing to accept a 12-month contract with an option to extend by a year.

However, we have to note that reports coming from the English outlet have often proved to be wrong, but in this case, the post-tax wages are made feasible by the fact that Messi would be available without a transfer fee.

As of now, there have been no developments in the Argentinian’s contract talks at Barcelona, although president Laporta mentioned that the signs were positive. If he were to leave, he would play his last game at Camp Nou on Sunday against Celta Vigo.