Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has reportedly demanded £600,000-a-week salary from Arsenal if he ever wants to leave Barcelona for the North London club.
According to the Star, the four-time Ballon d’Or winner would prefer to move to Arsenal over either Manchester United or Manchester City if the Barcelona exit ever did come about.
While Chelsea would also be interested if he were to become available, the Argentinian superstar would however prefer the Gunners according to the latest reports.
Messi has been linked with a move away from Catalonia for several months after run ins with the Spanish tax authorities, though his demands are sure to price out any possible move away.
He is currently earning over £14m-a-year with the reigning European champions but would seek out a deal that take his earnings to £18m-a-year after tax – which would extend his status as the world’s highest-paid player. The 28-year-old however admitted in an interview with Guillem Balague last month that he is not considering a transfer away from Barcelona at the moment.
When quizzed over whether he could one day see himself playing in another league, he said: ” I don’t want to look too far ahead. I live for the moment and at this moment I am with Barcelona in the Spanish League where I have made my living and where I live very well.”
Messi is currently out injured but has been backed to return to the Barcelona fold for this weekend’s clash with Real Madrid.
It’s expected that Messi will be on the bench for the game after suffering a knee injury against Las Palmas at the end of September. He had been training with the club’s B team over the international break, but is expected to re-join first team training on Monday.
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