Although the transfer fell through, just how much Manchester City offered in order to sign Lionel Messi from FC Barcelona has reportedly been revealed.
Could There Be A Huge Twist In The Messi Saga?
According to Swiss magazine L'Illustre, a leaked document appears to show the gigantic fee the Citizens offered to lure Messi away from the Catalan giants.
Despite reports suggesting the English side were only willing to sign the Argentine if he were free, it is claimed they tabled a £181 million (R3.9 billion) bid for the 33-year-old.
City were said to be prepared to offer the fee over 12 months, with half of the figure paid in this transfer window and the second half paid in August 2021.
Click through the gallery below to see Messi's return to Barca training, including images of the car he arrived in!
It is believed the Premier League giants sent the bid for the six-time Ballon d'Or winner's signature on 26 August, signed by director of football Txiki Begiristain.
In terms of the contract offered to Messi, the Citizens reportedly lined up a three-year move for the Argentina captain, which would have seen him earn £40 million (R870 million) overall.
The Barcelona forward ultimately decided to not force a move away from his boyhood club, revealing his reasons in a recent tell-all interview with Goal.
Messi's decision to end the fight with the Blaugrana came down to not wanting to take his club to court, although that did not stop him from slamming president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
He claimed the Barcelona chief had told him he was able to leave at the end of the 2019/20 season, but went back on his word, citing a technicality in the Argentine's contract.
