Lionel Messi offered €100m bonus to reject new Barcelona deal and leave for free

Lionel Messi has been offered a bonus worth €100m (£86.2m, $106.3m) to turn down any new deal at Barcelona and leave the club as a free agent in the summer of 2018, according to El Mundo. The report comes amid rumours linking the Argentine to a reunion with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

Messi is contracted at the Nou Camp until 2018, with a release clause set at €250m and a salary reportedly worth €500.000-a-week.

However, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu recently revealed the club are looking to open talks with the 29-year-old to secure his long-term future.

Neymar, Javier Mascherano and Sergio Busquets have all put pen to paper on new deals in recent months and the club wants Messi to follow in their footsteps.

But El Mundo reports that an unnamed club have offered Messi's entourage a bonus of €100m if he snubs any new deal and leaves the club in 2018 as a free agent.

If this came to pass, the club in question would avoid having to meet the €250m and Messi would receive a lucrative bonus on top of what would presumably be an increase salary.

El Mundo refused to reveal the club behind the alleged offer, but did note that Manchester City are monitoring Messi's situation.

The publication understands that Messi has expressed no desire to leave Barcelona, and the club are convinced he will ink a new deal. However, it adds that any final decision over Messi's 21-month prison sentence for tax fraud could force a change of plans.

Earlier this month Marca reported that Messi turned down an approach from Barcelona to renew his contract, adding that Manchester City would be his preferred destination were he to leave.

However, stories then emerged citing Messi's entourage, suggesting that the player and Barcelona had not planned to hold any talks until early 2017.

The Mirror, meanwhile, believes Manchester City are growing confident regarding the Argentinian switching to the Etihad Stadium this summer, as they are preparde to smash through the £100m barrier to sign him.