Lionel Messi agrees Man City transfer in stunning £623m move to reunite with Pep Guardiola
Posted Wednesday, September 02, 2020 by Express.co.uk
Lionel Messi is desperate to quit Barcelona for Manchester City.
Lionel Messi has agreed terms to complete a stunning move to Manchester City. The Barcelona superstar has decided to leave the Nou Camp. The Argentina star, 33, no longer feels he is a Barcelona player. Messi feels he's free to leave due to a clause in his contract which could allow him to quit the Nou Camp following the Champions League final.
However, Barcelona feel the clause has expired - and La Liga have backed the Spanish giants.
Messi, who is keen to join City, refused to attend Covid-19 testing on Sunday and failed to report to training this week.
And according to the Daily Record, Messi has agreed terms to join City in a staggering £623m (€700m) deal.
They say Messi will pen a five-year deal to stay with the City Football Group.
The Barcelona star will spend three years at the Etihad before moving to Major League Soccer side New York City FC, who City Football Group also own.
Lionel Messi has agreed to join Man City (Image: GETTY)
The Record add that Messi has been offered a stake in CFG to tempt him to quit Barcelona for Manchester.
Barcelona are demanding Messi's £623m release clause is met for him to leave the Nou Camp.
However, Messi's desire to leave could see the Spanish side agree to let the Argentina star depart this summer.
A lot has been made of Messi's future, with Nou Camp presidential candidate Toni Freixa backing his move to City.
Lionel Messi wants out of Barcelona (Image: GETTY)
Freixa told Goal: "As I have heard from several sides, the decision the player has come to is one that has matured over several years and is irrevocable.
"I don't believe that there is any going back."
When asked where Messi could end up, he added: "I think a move to Man City is likely.
"With Pep, Messi experienced his most brilliant years in Barcelona. It would only be logical if both of them worked together again.
"City, like almost all English clubs, also has the financial means to build a team that can win anything.
Lionel Messi wants to join Man City (Image: GETTY)
"Messi is a player who strives for maximum success.
"He alone cannot achieve maximum success, he needs a team for that. He does not have one.
"Since the treble in 2015, Champions League success is missing. That is what concerns him.
"His decision is due to the negative sporting development of the team in recent years."
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