 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Manchester City has offered Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic a four-year deal worth a staggering 96 million pounds, roughly 500,000 pounds a week. The deal would make him the highest-paid footballer in the world, earning 24 million pounds a year.
According to The Sun, it would topple the salaries of top stars such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka.
The huge deal dwarfs the 11million euros a year the striker picks up at the Nou Camp.
Man City has made this offer directly to Ibrahimovic's manager Mino Raiola, indicating their desire to capture the Swedish international.
"City have shown how much they want Zlatan and although he is well paid at Barcelona this offer is in a different league. It has given him plenty to think about especially when he is not so happy with his football at Barca," a source close to Ibrahimovic said.
Ibrahimovic is unsettled at Barca despite joining only last summer in a 50 million euro deal that also took Samuel Eto'o from Barcelona to the San Siro.
The enigmatic forward fell out with Barca coach Pep Guardiola in February and the pair barely speaks now.
Ibrahimovic is upset he has not been a regular starter and he has clashed with his coach over Barca's style of play.
So the chance to be involved in building a new club to rival Europe's best is an attractive proposition, especially with such a salary on offer, the paper states.
"The idea of being part of a move to create a new super club to challenge the very best in Europe is also attractive. City have to agree a deal with Barcelona before this can go any further - but there's a feeling that could all happen fairly quickly now," the source added.