Manchester City have denied "slashing" their offer to Lionel Messi; the club and the player have denied any offers have been made and reiterated he will decide his future this summer.
Messi has resettled at the Nou Camp this season since demanding to be released from his contract last summer, when Pep Guardiola and City were considered the frontrunners to sign him.
Short of entering into a legal dispute with club former president Josep Maria Bartomeu over a contract clause that would have allowed him a free transfer, Messi stayed but is now free to negotiate with other clubs outside Spain, with Paris Saint-Germain also interested, having entered into the last six months of his current deal.
However, Messi is keen to find out the result of next month's presidential election and what the winner will offer to him both in financial and sporting incentives, before making a call on the next step in his career.
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner's current contract - signed in 2017 - was leaked last month by Spanish newspaper El Mundo, claiming its worth to total £492m (€555m).
It went on to claim it was the most expensive ever awarded to an athlete, describing it as having "ruined" Barcelona by causing their current financial crisis. Barcelona since denied the leak came from the club's board and threatened legal action against the paper.
In December, interim president Carlos Tusquets also claimed the club should have sold Messi last summer when he wanted to leave. "Both in terms of what you save on the wage bill as well as the money you make, it would've been desirable," he said.
Lionel Messi is now free to speak to clubs outside of Spain about finally leaving Barcelona in the summer but - despite last year's transfer request - does he still want to leave?
Will he be reunited with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City?
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