Man City ‘cut Lionel Messi contract offer’ by £ 170m as free transfer slated

Manchester City have reportedly cut their contract offer to Lionel Messi by £ 170million.

This means that the five-year deal, which they put on the table six months ago, is now worth £ 430million instead of the original £ 600million.

Messi could leave Barcelona when his contact expires at the end of the season.

Paris Saint-Germain are keen to sign the Argentinian, who would join his former teammate and friend Neymar if he moved to France.

Currently, Messi is keeping his options open and could still sign an extension at Barcelona.

But if he chooses to try his hand in the Premier League with Manchester City, where he will reunite with former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola, then Messi will make less money than he was just six months ago, according to The Sun.

The financial climate that has followed the coronavirus pandemic is City’s alleged reason for lowering its contract offer, as well as the fact that Messi would join a year later than originally planned.

City reportedly want to tie Messi to a two-year gambling deal at the Etihad, with the possibility of extending that for another 12 months.

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner would then be required to play two more seasons in MLS with sister club Manchester City, New York City.