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Lionel Messi's Incredible Wages Could Stop Him Going Anywhere

Lionel Messi's Incredible Wages Could Stop Him Going Anywhere

The six time Ballon d'Or winner is being linked with a move out of Barca after a falling out with the club's sporting director.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Lionel Messi is being linked with a move away from Barcelona following his fall out with Eric Abidal but to match his wages a new club would reportedly have to pay nearly £1 million-a-week.

The six time Ballon d'Or winner this week hit back at sporting director Eric Abidal on social media, after the former defender criticised the players for their part in Ernesto Valverde's sacking.

That out of character response from Messi has led to rumours that he could leave in the summer, after 19 years at the Camp Nou, but any club would have to pay huge wages with Football Leaks claiming he earns £988,000-a-week basic wage.

Most clubs wouldn't be able to afford the Argentinian's wages but the sides being linked with him are amongst the elite with Manchester City leading cross town rivals United as well as Juventus and PSG.

One thing a buying club wouldn't have to splash out on is a transfer value with the 32-year-old reportedly having a clause that allows him to leave for free should he tell the club by the end of May that he wants to go.

City would be favourites due to the fact that Pep Guardiola is the manager and the Premier League champions have tried to sign the 10 time La Liga winner in the past.

They attempted to sign him in 2016 when Messi reportedly told his former boss at Barca that he wanted to play for him again but he later signed a contract extension in Spain.

Messi and Guardiola had a good relationship at Barcelona. Image: PA Images
Messi and Guardiola had a good relationship at Barcelona. Image: PA Images

Barca are currently in danger of ending their run of winning a trophy every season for the past eight years. On Thursday night their issues continued as they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey.

They remain three points behind rivals Real Madrid in the league and face Napoli in the last 16 of the Champions League, their last two remaining chances of silverware this season.

The club's biggest aim for the rest of the season though will be to make sure Messi wants to stay there next year, surely it won't be by increasing his wages...

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Manchester City, Football News, Pep Guardiola, Barcelona, Transfer stories, Lionel Messi, Premier League, Transfer news, La Liga, Transfer reports

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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@Sidler28