SunSport revealed that Messi was considering quitting the Camp Nou for a shock switch to England.
And Messi’s representatives have had initial discussions about joining City which could see the 28-year-old sign a deal worth around £40MILLION a year.
The Barca superstar would pocket around £32m for playing with the rest paid in image rights and bonuses.
City have been given encouragement that Messi is willing to end his time in Spain after 11 years — where his current £500,000-a-week deal ends in 2018.
And despite a buy-out clause of £250m, the Spanish champions are believed to be open to offers at a more realistic £120m for the four-time Ballon D’Or winner.
Barca have prioritised the renewal of Neymar’s contract over Messi which the Argentine sees as an insult.
With Neymar and Luis Suarez starring during his recent injury, Messi fears he may be surplus to requirements.
And the pursuit of both he and his father on tax evasion charges has also seen Messi review his time in the country.
The City hierarchy can fund the remarkable package on the back of the new TV deal that begins next season and will be worth up to £150m per season for the champions.
City chiefs also know that signing Messi would greatly improve their chances of making Pep Guardiola their next boss given the pair’s incredible success together at the Camp Nou.
City chief exec Ferran Soriano and director, Txiki Begiristain, have a strong relationship with Messi and his father, who is his agent, from their time at Barcelona.
SunSport understands that initial talks were positive.
But such mega deals take months to thrash out and City will have to work hard to persuade Messi his future is at the Etihad.
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