Lionel Messi has reportedly given his nod to a record £623 million five-year Manchester City contract, according to Record Sport.
The incredible deal would make the Argentine the highest-paid individual in the history of the sport equating to £14,200 an hour, £341,000 per day, £2.4m every week and a whopping £10.4m per month.
Messi is expected to spend three seasons at the Etihad before joining City Football Group’s Major League Soccer side New York City FC for two years.
It is also reported that Messi could be offered an equity stake in CFG as part of his package.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner has been at loggerheads with Barcelona since he handed in his transfer request to leave on a free and new Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has decided that if Messi does not want to stay at the Spanish giants it would be better to get him out as soon as possible.
Messi’s father and representative, Jorge Messi, yesterday flew by private jet from his home in Argentina city Rosario to Spain for showdown talks with Barcelona chiefs today.
Barca presidential candidate Victor Font insists current president Josep Maria Bartomeu must honor his pledge to allow the Argentine superstar “to leave whenever he wants.”
And Font declared: “A couple of months ago the president said players have earned the right to leave and retire whenever they want.
“Now, because of these very exceptional circumstances, he has to honour that commitment.”
When asked whether Messi had been betrayed by the club, Font added: “There is an inconsistency, probably due to mismanagement by the current board, trying to hide behind these wrongdoings.
“That’s why it’s extremely important for the history of the club that we do what it takes.”
Barcelona claim Messi, 33, is on strike after failing to report for a Covid test and pre-season training.
But the superstar no longer considers himself a part of Koeman’s squad following a bitter row over his contract.
In a Sky Sports interview Font added: “I’m sure what Messi has decided has not been a last-minute decision, it’ll be something well thought out.
“I really hope the decision can be changed, but it doesn’t seem likely and if that’s the case the focus should be on getting the transition that Messi deserves.
“We need to ensure the legal battle between the club and Messi stops. We sit down, we talk. Let’s make sure we don’t get into an even worse situation.”