Messi 'turned down £88m-a-year offer from Chinese' before signing new contract

Lionel Messi turned down the chance to become by far and away the best paid player on the planet last summer when the Chinese Super League failed in an attempt to coax him away from Barcelona.

According to Mundo Deportivo, officials from the big-spending division extended an offer in the region of €100million-a-year (£88m) to the Argentine, a wage that would have seen him take home £1.7m every week.
But despite the incredible financial package put forward, Messi chose to stay with the Spanish club and put pen-to-paper on a deal that extended his stay at the Nou Camp until 2021 last November.
That new deal saw him become one of the best paid players on the planet regardless with a basic wage of £500,000-a-week before loyalty bonuses and image rights.
However, the CSL have not given up their dream of convincing the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to see out the twilight days of his career in the Far East.
The same report suggests several clubs are financially strong enough to meet his €700m (£622m) release clause and pay a lucrative package in the region of the aforementioned offer.

But having already turned down £88m-a-year, however, CSL officials understand that no amount of money is likely to convince Messi and they are now drawing up a plan to win his affections in other ways.
Bringing Messi's international team-mates Ezequiel Lavezzi and Javier Mascherano to the division was seen as a good first step in what is likely to be a long courtship.
Mascherano joined Hebei China Fortune from Barcelona last month while Lavezzi has been at the same club since 2016 after a big-money move from Paris Saint-Germain.

Comments

'Ronaldo was the best player, no doubts' - Portugal star's FIFA snub surprises Santos

The Juventus forward's national team coach has spoken out over the decision to overlook his captain for Best Player and Best Goal Cristiano Ronaldo was the victim of a double injustice at the Best FIFA Football Awards, according to Portugal coach Fernando Santos, after he missed out on both Best Player and Best Goal. Luka Modric became the first player other than Ronaldo or Lionel Messi to win the Best FIFA Footballer of the Year award since Kaka in 2007. The Croatian captained his side to their first ever World Cup final and was voted the tournament’s best player, picking up the Golden Ball. But Santos has spoken out at the decision to give the midfielder the Player of the Year honour over Ronaldo, suggesting his captain and talisman was unfairly beaten into second place. He is quoted in Marca as saying: “If you ask me if Modric is a great player, I answer yes, and that’s why I voted for Modric in second place. Now, if you ask me who is the be...

Nemanja Matic exclusive: Man Utd must win almost every game but title race isn't over

Nemanja Matic refuses to write off Manchester United's chances in the title race Nemanja Matic says Manchester United are not out of the title race, but admits they must win almost every game for the rest of the season to catch Manchester City. Man Utd's 2-1 defeat by rivals City on Sunday left them 11 points behind the Premier League leaders with just 16 games played. Many have been writing City's rivals off, such is the dominance of Pep Guardiola's unbeaten side, but Matic says there is a long way to go yet. W Brom vs Man Utd He told Soccer Saturday : "The gap is big, obviously 11 points is a lot, but the league is not finished. I'm sure there will be very interesting games until the end, and of course that they will drop some points. We will see what will happen. "As I say there are still many games to play and I th...

Zidane has decided to sell Isco (AS)

The French coach has been disappointed by the player and has decided that if he is to remain at the Bernabeu next season, then Isco is to be sold. Late night Spanish football television show 'El Chiringuito' have reported that if Zidane remains at the Bernabeu next season, one of the French coach priorities will be to sell Isco Alarcon. Journalist Josep Pedrerol maintains that Zidane feels disappointed with the Benalmadena born player after depositing his fail in the creative midfielder following the departure of Colombian international James Rodríguez to Bundesliga side Bayern Munich. Favouritism "Isco was deemed as to more of a pivotal player than Colombian but has had a discreet and underwhelming season so far" claimed Pedrerol, after Zidane asked Florentino Pérez to offload James as he preferred to have Isco in his first-team squad. He continued: "Zidane is ahuge admirer of Isco's style of play and wh...

olayiwolagold

Search This Blog