Man City drawing up new contract offer for Messi

Premier League side Manchester City are planning a fresh move for Barcelona captain Lionel Messi.

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City pushed hard to sign Messi over the summer after the Argentine submitted a transfer demand. However, Barca refused to do business, referring City to Messi’s €700m buyout clause. The Argentine eventually withdrew his transfer demand.

However, with his contract running down, City are ready to try again, reports the Telegraph.

According to Barca sources, Messi’s future is likely to be resolved later in the campaign rather than imminently, regardless of Josep Bartomeu’s departure as president after a bitter fallout with the club’s greatest player.

Barcelona’s elections for Bartomeu’s successor is scheduled for March, after which Messi’ future could become clearer. But it will still give City or other clubs a window where they can agree terms on a contract starting in July 2021, ending two decades at the club after moving from Argentina.

City’s chief operating officer, Omar Berrada, recently stated that Messi is still being considered at the Etihad Stadium after missing out on him in the summer.

“I think any club in the world would like to explore the possibility of him joining their team,” he said. “He’s probably an exception to potential investments that we’d do.”