Lionel Messi has now reportedly made a shock request to Paris Saint-Germain amid reports linking him with a sensational return to FC Barcelona.
The Argentine is widely expected to leave the Ligue 1 leaders at the end of the season, when his current contract is scheduled to expire.
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It was recently claimed Messi has decided to rejoin Barcelona two years after his exit from the Camp Nou.
The Catalan giants' financial restrictions, though, could mean that the Argentine would likely have to earn a lot less back in LaLiga than the package PSG are paying him today.
However, Le Parisien now reports that the 35-year-old does not want to lower his salary whether or not he stays at PSG, with Messi's father and agent, Jorge, insisting his son's triumph at the 2022 FIFA World Cup should, in fact, lead to an increase on his current wages at the Parc des Princes if they want him to extend his stay.
PSG are believed to have the funds available to increase the forward's salary, but are said to not want to do so as they make a move towards a more sustainable, less extravagant, way of controlling their finances.
According to L'Equipe, the French giants would want the superstar to earn the same package he has got over the past two years, said to be $47 million (R859 million) gross a year, if he agrees to play for them beyond this season.
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It remains to be seen if this could play a role in the South American's potential return to Barca.
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