FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi. (Photo : Getty Images)
Four-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is reportedly open to a move to Premier League's Arsenal FC after his recent troubles with tax authorities in Spain, but the FC Barcelona forward wants to receive "the right deal" before doing so.
The Daily Star reported that Messi is looking for an annual pay of £18 million after tax, or a £600,000 weekly salary before deductions, and he is favoring the Gunners as his desired destination if ever such a transfer would push through.
Presently, Barça is paying him £18 million per year with a buyout clause of £175 million, which would easily be the most expensive world football transfer of all time. Currently, the record is at £85.3 million held by Welsh winger Gareth Bale during his 2013 transfer from the Premier League's Tottenham Hotspur to La Liga's Real Madrid.
Last month, a Spanish court pronounced the 28-year-old Argentinian and his father, Jorge, to stand trial for a £3 million tax evasion case that the elder Messi allegedly committed from 2007 to 2009.
Expectedly, the father and son denied the allegations, but the repercussions of it had already been felt by Messi and his family, reportedly souring even his loyalty to his current Spanish club.
The Telegraph noted that while Arsenal may be delighted by Messi's intention to play for the Emirates club, "notoriously frugal" Arsene Wenger may not become too enthusiastic when he receives word of the buyout clause and salary demand.
However, the allure of having a front three of Messi, Alexis Sánchez, and Olivier Giroud may be too much to pass up for Wenger and could be the key to the Gunners winning a 14th Premier League title they last won back in 2003-2004.
