Messi has nothing left to prove. If he did ever consider coming to City, it would only ever be to top up his pension. That would be the last thing we'd need. Even the publicity and merchandising wouldn't be worth the hassle. Plus, imagine how desperate the scumbag press would be for him to be a complete flop.
Spanish buy-out clauses are different to the release clauses we're used to and have a legal standing. In Spain, they are mandatory and a player can buy out his contract for the stated fee and his club can do nothing about it. But he has to do it, not the buying club as I understand it, otherwise there are tax issues with VAT being payable. The clubs can come to an agreement on price to mitigate this but the selling club has the right to demand the full fee, plus VAT, if it wants. Messi's clause is around £180m I believe.
Messi has nothing left to prove. If he did ever consider coming to City, it would only ever be to top up his pension. That would be the last thing we'd need. Even the publicity and merchandising wouldn't be worth the hassle. Plus, imagine how desperate the scumbag press would be for him to be a complete flop.
Hopefully he will see out his contract with Barcelona, then top up his pension in China. It makes sense for Barca to cash in on him now, as he's a couple of months off 30. Does it make sense for City to splash out silly money on a 30 year old that's passed his best and unproven in the Premier League?
He's scored 17 goals in 16 games against Premier League clubs, his best record against any league in the UCL, including putting four past us in two games this year.
You have to be out of your fucking mind if you genuinely think Messi is over the hill and potentially unable to perform at the highest level against Stoke and Burnley.
Yes - contract up 2018.
Translation - Messi to use other clubs to get a bumper pay rise.
Quite correct although different regions will have slightly different rules. Getting a player from a Basque club is an absolute minefield.