Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has reportedly agreed to a nearly billion-dollar deal to join Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. The 33-year-old seems intent on leaving Barcelona after handing in a transfer request.
According to a report in Record Sport, the 33-year-old has agreed financial terms on a five-year contract worth a total $827,000,000. Damn that’s a lot of zeroes.
The record-setting deal would make him the highest-paid individual in the history of the sport. It equates to $18,800 an hour, $452,000 a-day, $3.2 million a-week or a whopping $13.8 million a-month.
According to the Sun, Messi is set to spend three seasons at City before joining City Football Group’s (CFG) MLS side New York City FC for the remaining two years. It is also reported that Messi could be offered an equity stake in CFG as part of his package.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner has been at loggerheads with Barcelona since he handed in his transfer request to leave. New Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has allegedly said that if Messi wants to leave the Spanish giants then it’s better to get him out now.
Messi’s father and representative, Jorge Messi, yesterday flew by private jet from his home in Rosario, Argentina, to Spain for showdown talks with Barcelona chiefs today.