With Lionel Messi set for a departure from current club PSG, FC Barcelona are reportedly making a move to sign their former player with an offer worth €200 million, along with other alternative deals lined up for his return
Spanish giants FC Barcelona are very optimistic of bringing back their former star Lionel Messi this summer, and they have even set his potential contract length.
Barcelona are on the move to sign Lionel Messi with a return offer worth €200 million, with other alternative deals lined up
Lionel Messi's priority is to return to FC Barcelona. #FCBlive 🔵🔴[@Santi_J_FM] pic.twitter.com/dICMNCzxGu
— Football Talk (@FootballTalkHQ) March 18, 2023
🚨 Lionel Messi has made the decision not to sign in Saudi Arabia. ❌🇸🇦
The most likely option is for him to continue at PSG for one more season.
(Source: @sport ) pic.twitter.com/46CNSCnnPk
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) March 21, 2023
The 35-year-old Argentine legend will become a free agent on June 30 one his contract with PSG officially ends.
Messi refuses contract-renewal with PSG
Lionel Messi made it clear recently that he would not extend his two-year deal with Paris Saint Germain. Messi joined the side back in the summer of 2021 when left the Blaugrana. The football icon has reportedly rejected PSG’s new contract because the club wishes to lower his reported €30 million ($32.4 million) yearly salary due to Financial Fair Play limits.
Moreover, Messi has also reportedly ruled out a move to the Middle East like his rival Cristiano Ronaldo did. As such, as things stand, FC Barcelona do indeed have a god chance of bringing back their former star. So while PSG comes up with a new offer, Barcelona are also upping their stakes to sign the football GOAT.
FC Barcelona offer to sign Lionel Messi
Over the past weeks, reports have stated that Barca president Joan Laporta offered Messi with a “final offer”. The offer would see Messi earning €200,000 ($216,000) annually along with the expected €100 million ($108 million) proceeds from his farewell match.
New reports from the same source now claim that Messi could potentially earn €200 million ($216 million) with the Catalans. This is because he will also earn the profits from merchandising items, which are tied to his name.
An “imaginative formula”
Although the source of this new claims are not fully verified, it is getting widely accepted that Barca are currently thinking up of ways to get Lionel Messi to return. Barca is reportedly looking for other ways to sign Messi than just offering a high salary.
According to Roger Torello at Mundo Deportivo, Barca will reportedly offer Messi with a low base wage and then a “percentage of income” that he generates for the club.
Meanwhile, Jose Alvarez Haya, while speaking on the El Chiringuito television program in Spain, claimed that Barca have been working to bring back Messi over the past 10 days. He stated that they have a plan with an “imaginative formula” to pay him wages related to marketing.
Alvarez further added that Messi will receive an offer consisting of a fixed year plus an optional, additional season. This means that he could leave to join the MLS if he wishes in 2024.
Irrespective of whatever claims come up, one thing’s sure that Barca are indeed serious of signing Messi in the summer. These alternative contracts could eventually see him get paid more than what PSG are able to offer.
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