Manchester City are reportedly preparing a mammoth contract offer for Lionel Messi.

Messi handed in a transfer request to Barcelona last week, but the details around how his exit will work are disputed.

Regardless, City are preparing their personal terms for the 33-year-old superstar.

According to Sport (via Marca), the Sky Blues will offer Messi a five-year contract worth €750 million.

The deal will be broken down between three years at City and two seasons at their MLS sister club, New York City FC.

Messi would earn €100million a season before tax at City, with the remaining €250million given as a signing bonus for joining New York.

Meanwhile, La Liga have supported Barcelona's claim that the release clause of €700 million in Messi's contract remains valid.

The Argentine is arguing a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave for free was supposed to expire at the end of the season, rather than the May 31 stipulated in his contract.

He argues the May 31 date is not valid because the end of the season was pushed back to August because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The situation now looks destined to be settled in court after Messi failed to show up at Barca for his pre-season medical this weekend.