Manchester United and Adidas' plan to lure Leo Messi from Barcelona

Information bout Lionel Messi’s future has not stopped in the last week even though Barcelona and the player’s entourage have indicated that contact over a new contract to extend his Camp Nou stay has been made. 

On Sunday, The Mirror linked Manchester City with a huge offer for the player, while now it’s Marketing Deportivo claiming Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United want the Argentine star.  

Messi returned to training on Monday and will play against Celtic on Wednesday after missing the disappointing goalless draw with Malaga due to a bug. However, the focus is on the supposed 100 million euros paid to him not to renew with Barça. 

United and Adidas, according to Marketing Deportivo, are trying to convince him to sign for the English club with the German company willing to pay the English club 100 million euros annually. 

Investment into Mourinho’s team at United has not paid off yet and results are still disappointing. However, the remedy seen is to pay even more, luring Messi to Old Trafford. 

In ‘MD’ they assure that “Messi’s contract renewal has not commenced, they’re not even negotiating and there’s not even a firm offer on the table.” However, SPORT understand conversations began last week between Barça and the player. 

Adidas cover themselves with a clause which would see the 100 million euros drop to 65 million euros, more or less, in the case United don’t reach the Champions League. 

Even with Mourinho, Rooney and Ibrahimovic, it doesn’t look as if they will reach the Champions League, though. The solution, they think, would be the arrival of Messi. 

The problem is the 250 million euro release clause. One way around this problem is to pay the Argentine a bonus of 100 million euros — in addition to 50 million euros brute per year — for him to run down his existing deal. Adidas would help United do the operation.