Lionel Messi ‘seriously considering’ leaving Barcelona after Man City meet with his agents

/COURTESY

• Forward is concerned about the current crisis at Catalan club amid astonishing revelation he has NOT signed a new deal
• Messi has close ties to City through old boss Pep Guardiola, who was Nou Camp manager for three of his five Ballon d’Or wins.

The Barcelona superstar is “seriously considering” leaving the club, reports the Daily Record.

City are supposedly ready to meet Messi’s £275million buy-out clause.

The Premier League giants are said to have met with Messi’s representatives in a Barcelona restaurant last week to try and broker an historic deal.

Messi, 30, agreed a new four-year contract with Barca last month which would have made him the highest paid player on the planet.

But Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre incredibly revealed the deal is yet to be signed.

Messi underwent huge success under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola /COURTESY

And while City are willing to meet the Argentine’s eye-watering buy-out clause, they could reportedly try and sign him on a free ahead of next season when his contract runs out.

The meltdown the Catalan club have suffered this transfer window is said to be dissuading Messi from putting pen to paper.