Lionel Messi is no longer subject to a £632million Barcelona release clause in a major boost to Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, according to reports from Spain.
City are hoping to sign Messi for free after he previously revealed he had an option in his contract to leave at the end of each season.
Barcelona claim that arrangement expired on June 10 and cannot be revisited until next summer.
Nou Camp chiefs are hoping to agree a £250million players-plus-cash deal with City rather than go to court in an attempt to get the Etihad club to pay the player’s get-out clause in full.
But Spanish radio station Cadena SER, cited by Metro, has reported there is no longer a buy-out clause in Messi’s contract, claiming it expired at the end of the 2019/20 campaign.
(Image: REUTERS)
If true, the news would come as a boost to Messi’s suitors, with Paris-Saint Germain, Juventus and Inter Milan all in the race to sign the Argentine superstar.
It is City who remain in pole position, though, with Messi seemingly intent on a reunion with his former Barcelona mentor Guardiola.
The Blues believe they are on the brink of prising the six-time Ballon d’Or winner away from Barcelona after he made it clear he is not backing down from his bid to quit the Nou Camp.
And City bosses know the arrival of the 33-year-old forward will secure the future of boss Guardiola for another three years.
City would be prepared to sacrifice the likes of John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Benjamin Mendy, Joao Cancelo, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Angelino in a bid to land Messi.
New Barca boss Ronald Koeman has told friends in Holland he is already planning for life without the world’s No 1 player.
Will Lionel Messi sign for Manchester City? Have your say here
(Image: Getty Images)
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It is yet to be seen whether he will take any of the players on offer – although Barcelona do want young City defender Eric Garcia following his decision to reject a new contract.
Meanwhile, Messi will not be present for the Barcelona squad’s coronavirus testing on Sunday or the start of pre-season training on Monday as he looks to force through a move.
