Man City have reportedly been told they can sign Lionel Messi, but will have to meet his huge wage demands in order to do so.

Messi is free to leave Barcelona at the end of the season as his contract expires and he is yet to make a decision, publicly, over his future.

The 33-year-old has played his entire professional career with Barca and is widely regarded as the world’s top player. But he will fall out of contract at the end of the current campaign. The Catalans want him to remain but will only offer him fresh terms on a reduced salary.

City has been touted as a possible destination seeing as Pep Guardiola is the manager there, but the imminent departure of his friend Sergio Aguero may take away from the allure of the club.

Man City have been told they will need to pay Messi £500,000-a-week  after tax.

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The report says the Argentine is open to a move to the Premier League, if his demands can be met.

The numbers involve rule out all but the richest clubs and Manchester City fall into that category. The Citizens were linked with a move for the South American last summer when he was pushing for an exit.

However, nothing materialised and he remained with the Spanish giants. But rumours persist that he would be open to trying his luck elsewhere at the right price.

A weekly wage of £500,000-a-week after tax would make Messi the highest paid player in Premier League history. He would earn £25m per year and it is open to debate whether even a club with City’s resources would pay that.