PSG Include Unexpected Clause To Tempt Lionel Messi To Choose Them

Mauricio Pochettino is hoping to beat Manchester City to the signing of Lionel Messi, by adding a strange clause to the star's contract.

Messi looked set to leave Barcelona last summer, with the club's all time top scorer publicly trying to be released from his contract, with City expected to be his new club.

Eventually the 33-year-old admitted defeat to stay put at the Nou Camp but, with his contract expiring at the end of this season, he is still expected to leave in the near future.

City remain favourites but PSG have come into the picture, hoping to pair him with former teammate Neymar, and Pochettino, who took over at the French club last week, wants to persuade the Argentina ace to join his side.

According to Spanish outlet Todofichajes, the Ligue 1 champions are hoping a 'golden retirement' will help persuade Messi to join them.

The clause would see the six time Ballon d'Or winner join them for a few years before moving to MLS side Inter Miami to end his career, with Messi previously saying he wants to play in America.

Messi is still expected to leave in the summer. Image: PA Images

Miami are the league's newest side, having only made their debut in the 2020 season, and are owned by former Manchester United star David Beckham.

Becks ended his career at PSG in 2013 and still has a good relationship with the club's owners, which is where the link comes from that would allow Messi to move there.

The clause is likely seen as an important part of trying to entice Messi to pick them over City, because of the Premier League club having a sister team in the MLS, New York City.

Sheikh Mansour's City Football Group own both sides and it's likely that the Barca captain would end his career in New York if he moves to Manchester first.

Beckham ended his career at PSG and still has a good relationship with the side. Image: PA Images

The report claims that PSG are particularly desperate to land Messi because they are expecting to lose Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid in the summer.

If the Frenchman does leave it would room in both the wage budget and the team for Pochettino to sign Messi, as the club attempt to win the Champions League for the first time.

Since the former Spurs manager took over from Thomas Tuchel, the French champions have been linked with two of his ex players in Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli, who are both out of favour at their current clubs.

Topics: Manchester City, Football News, Barcelona, Ligue 1, David Beckham, PSG, Lionel Messi, Mauricio Pochettino, MLS, Premier League, Inter Miami

Ryan Sidle

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