Manchester City have reportedly submitted a massive new offer worth €500 million for Lionel Messi, but it is much less than what they had previously presented.
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The Premier League leaders have not given up on bringing the FC Barcelona captain to England after tabling a five-year deal worth €700 million (R12.3 billion) for the player ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.
Back then, Messi thought he could activate a clause in his contract that would see him leave as a free agent, but then-club president Josep Maria Bartomeu did not allow him to do so.
After a public row, he opted not to take the club to court and stayed at the Camp Nou. With his contract expiring in less than five months' time, he is yet to make a decision on his future and numerous reports suggest that he wants to wait until the next Barca president has been elected.
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In the meantime, his father Jorge, who is also his agent, has asked interested clubs to table their offers, according to The Sun.
The English publication has reported that City have submitted a new deal worth €500 million (R8.8 billion) over five years for the Albiceleste talisman. They reportedly want him to play in the Premier League for two years with an option to extend by another year, before committing to two seasons in Major League Soccer with sister club New York City.
It is understood that the package could see him agree to an overall duration of eight years, with Messi also carrying out ambassadorial duties for the City Football Group and potentially playing in India or the United Arab Emirates.
City's latest offer, though, is about €200 million (R3.5 billion) less than what they tabled a few months ago, with the club also feeling the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis.
However, it still equates to €100 million (R1.8 billion) per annum, equalling a whopping €275 000 (R4.8 million) per day before tax.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain have made their intentions to sign the 33-year-old public as well, but are yet to table a concrete offer.
