A wealthy football club from the Chinese Super League is reportedly eyeing Argentine superstar Lionel Messi with an offer that would definitely be difficult to refuse.
Chinese club Hebei China Fortune, currently helmed by Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini, is offering the Argentina national team captain over £80 million ($99.9 million) per year, more than double his current pay of £40 million ($49.9 million). According to AS (via Goal.com), the club’s offer is a five-year contract worth $500 million.
Founded in 2010, Hebei China Fortune is only in their first season in the country’s elite football division. Messi’s countryman, Ezequiel Lavezzi, previously joined the club for a handsome net salary of £8.4 million ($10.4 million) per annum, with a bonus up to £5 million ($6.2 million).
The talented forward is currently in negotiations to extend his contract with Spanish club FC Barcelona at Camp Nou. Messi’s deal with the club expires in 2018.
Barça, which is ready to pay around £29.3 million, is still confident that the 29-year-old will stay at the club that has been his home since 2003.
Teammate Neymar signed an extension with Barça back in October, while Luis Suárez has agreed to sign a new contract on Friday, tying him with the team until 2021.
Image via Flickr / L.F.Salas
