Lionel Messi wishes to remain the highest paid footballer in the world and will demand that his next club pay him exactly what he currently earns at Barcelona according to a report in today’s print edition of Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera.

The Argentine national team player rocked the footballing world a few days ago when he announced that he wishes to leave Barcelona, a decision he communicated to the Catalonia based club by fax.

Messi currently earns a sum of €50 million net per year, some €20 million more a year than arch rival Cristiano Ronaldo, and he is understood to be seeking a three year contract from his next employers.

Ultimately very few clubs are unable to satisfy Messi’s contractual demands and as things stand Manchester City have an advantage over all other sides whilst Inter and Paris Saint-Germain are both also in the running to sign the 33-year-old, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time.