Chelsea, Manchester City bid for Barcelona star Messi

Chelsea and Manchester City have both bid for unsettled Barcelona star Lionel Messi, it has been claimed.

The English teams have lodged cash bids for the Argentine forward as he is yet to sign a new deal despite agreeing to the terms. Messi’s current contract expires in June.

Local pundit Eduardo Inda has claimed the 30-year-old has been unsettled by the recent unrest in Catalonia and has weighed up a move to China.

And while on El Chiringuito de Jugones, Inda also revealed the English Champions and Manchester City have lodged bids for the Argentina international.

“A few months ago Messi was a little down and was thinking seriously before the World Cup in Russia to go to China,” Inda said.

“They tell me that he would have received offers of 150 million euros per season [134m].

“Despite this, his intention is to stay, although he has three offers in case he decides to leave the Barcelona team.

“Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain all love him.”

The Argentine star is still open for an exit due to Neymar’s departure to PSG and the inability of Barcelona chiefs to sign a world-class replacement for the Brazilian star.