Lionel Messi is able to leave Barcelona as a free agent next summer if he does not agree a new contract, with Manchester City very keen on signing the six-time Ballon d’Or winner.
In fact, the City Football Group, who own Manchester City, want to give the Argentine a contract that will last until he is 43 years old. The Times report that Manchester City will offer Messi a 10-year contract which will allow him to also play for any of the other eight teams the City Football Group have in their portfolio, such as New York City FC, Melbourne City or Yokohama Marinos, once he decides to leave the Etihad Stadium. The contract would also include a role as global ambassador for City Football Group.
Although Messi’s contract does not formally come to an end until June 30, the Barcelona captain will be free to negotiate with new clubs from January 1. There is a lot of conflicting news regarding Messi at the moment, however. For instance, Sky Sports reported on Monday that Manchester City are hesitant about offering the 33-year-old a deal due to his age and wage demands. Continue reading