Chinese club ready to spend 860 million dollars to buy Messi outright

In the summer of 2017, according to the newspaperSunLionel Messi once turned down a salary offer of $2.3 million after tax per week from Hebei China Fortune. Undaunted, the Chinese club is raising more money from major investors to be able to buy the Argentine star outright.

According to the new contract signed with Barca, Messi's contract termination clause is 860 million. If successful, Hebei China Fortune can make a deal many times bigger than the current transfer record held by PSG: buying Neymar outright for 263 million from Barca.

Messi could break the transfer record if he leaves Barca. Photo:Reuters

To prepare for the purchase of Messi, in addition to financial issues, the Chinese club also had to get the consent of the Argentine player. Messi is not someone who easily breaks his commitment to Barca, not to mention that he wanted to play at the Nou Camp until the end of his career.

Hebei China Fortune currently owns two other Argentinian players, Javier Mascherano and Ezequiel Lavezzi. These two stars are both close friends of Messi in the national team.

Hebei China Fortune’s coach is also a familiar figure: Manuel Pellegrini. Having led Villarreal, Malaga and Real Madrid, the Chilean coach knows Messi’s talent well. In 2014, he led Man City to win the Premier League title.

Thanks to high-profile deals, Chinese football is becoming an attractive destination for players in their twilight years. Many young stars are also willing to turn their careers around to play in Asian countries, such as Oscar and Cedric Bakambu.