Manchester City is weighing the possibility of offering Lionel Messi a long-term contract that would see him move to Major League Soccer sister club New York City FC after three years in the Premier League, according to ESPN.
Messi had been reportedly intrigued by the possibility of moving stateside for an MLS venture, a move Manchester City could make come true under this structure. The club could also offer Messi the chance to become an ambassador for the City Football Group, a holding company that owns a number of clubs across the world, including Manchester City and NYCFC.
Lionel Messi shocked the world on Tuesday, when he told Barcelona via burofax that he would no longer continue with the club, seeking to leave via his opt-out clause.
When the Argentine signed his new contract with Barcelona in 2017, it included a clause that would allow him to leave after each season, if he so preferred. Though the clause states a July 10 deadline, which has since passed as the season extended well-after the date due to extraneous circumstances, as world football took a long pause amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The club is confident that if Messi takes this to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Barcelona would win the case by means of clear language, as it has a date set in the contract.
Manchester City is closely observing the situation, hoping Lionel Messi is allowed an exit by means of a free transfer. The Premier League club has also explored means to acquire the megastar without breaking Financial Fair Play rules.
Meanwhile, Barcelona has stood pat on its intent to retain Messi:
“As we have said many times, we're still thinking of Messi as a Barca player,” new sporting director Ramon Planes said on Wednesday. “Barca have rebuilt themselves many times throughout history and have always bounced back stronger. Our idea is to rebuild around the best player in the world.
“There's a huge amount of respect for Leo because of what he is and his story here, but we're not thinking about any contractual clause. We can't have a public dispute between Barca and Messi, because neither side deserves that.
“The marriage between Messi and Barca has given both parties a lot. It has given the fans a huge amount of joy, and we have to fight for that relationship to continue. Internally, we're working hard to convince Messi to stay. We want to find the best solution for Barca and for Messi.”
Should Barcelona relinquish its grip on Lionel Messi, Manchester City could potentially forge a deal that would give them the best years of the megastar while facilitating a lateral move to MLS in the distant future.
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