Barcelona transfer news: Lionel Messi could leave for Man City or PSG for FREE - Gibson

LIONEL MESSI could leave Barcelona on a free transfer next summer, according to Spanish football expert Terry Gibson.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi leaves defenders for dead

Messi is yet to sign the new contract he agreed earlier in the summer and has grown frustrated with the club in the transfer market.

Messi is worried Barcelona have not added enough quality following the departure of Neymar and fears being left behind by rivals Real Madrid.

Manchester City are interested in signing Messi and would lay down the red carpet to him if ever given an indication he is willing to join.

Pep Guardiola would be ready to do everything he can to sign the Argentina super star.

I know he's 30 now but in terms of prestige and what a signing like that can bring to the club would be a real coup. It's not just the marketing, it is 50 games and 50 goals a season in whatever league he goes and plays in. I didn't think it would happen,

Terry Gibson on Lionel Messi

And Gibson thinks a move away from Barcelona is now a possibility.

"I always thought Lionel Messi, like Andres Iniesta and Xavi, would spend the bulk of the serious part of his career at Barcelona," Gibson told La Liga Weekly.

"For years I found it hard to envisage how anyone could afford to take Messi away from Barcelona, but now we've seen the emergence of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

Lionel MessiGETTY

Lionel Messi could leave Barcelona on a free transfer next summer

"Now I'm looking at the fact he's got only a year left on his contract. I think the new contract offer is worth €24m-a-year but if he was available on a free transfer Barca's offer would get dwarfed. If a PSG or a Manchester City can get an out-of-contract Messi we're talking, with the price of players now, €100m, €150m, €200m.

"I know he's 30 now but in terms of prestige and what a signing like that can bring to the club would be a real coup. It's not just the marketing, it is 50 games and 50 goals a season in whatever league he goes and plays in. I didn't think it would happen, but I actually think it might now."

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