Juventus have been in contact with Lionel Messi’s entourage and are options along with Manchester City, PSG and Inter.
According to L’Equipe and Spanish newspaper AS, the Argentina legend is locked in a legal battle with Barcelona, as both club and player are convinced the contract clause backs their position.
Barca insist it expired on June 10, Messi that the date should automatically shuffle along because the season did not end until mid-August.
Now Marca report via Football Espana that Barcelona have fired law firm Cuatrecasas, because they seemingly helped Messi and his lawyers work out a strategy to leave the club.
If Messi does manage to leave Camp Nou as a free agent, then Juventus would be the main competition for Manchester City, claim L’Equipe and AS.
Both those papers in France and Spain assure Juve have been in contact with Messi’s entourage to enquire about the situation and make it clear they are interested in this astonishing swoop.
It would enable Messi to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time in their careers, although the inevitable problem then would be deciding who gets the larger salary.
Manchester City remain the favourites thanks to Pep Guardiola’s presence and their financial status now the FFP row with UEFA has passed.
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Inter are a little further behind, in part because Antonio Conte wouldn’t even necessarily want someone like Messi dominating his squad and forcing a change of tactics.
PSG already have Neymar and would welcome a reunion to finally end their Champions League taboo.