The Lionel Messi transfer saga is just beginning and it won’t be settled any time soon.Following Barcelona’s 8-2 hammering against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, there were rumours that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner wanted to leave the club.But on Tuesday night, those reports escalated and snowballed into one of the biggest stories we've seen in years.According to various reports, Messi submitted a fax to confirm his desire to leave Camp Nou. That was confirmed to Associated Press by Barcelona.But the saga certainly won’t be straight forward.Barca are likely to demand the €700 million release clause from clubs who want to sign the 33-year-old.p1egl8ojtd3uj1gfq1bsqtkp1v1uf.jpgMeanwhile, Messi and his entourage believe he is able to trigger a clause in his contract that allows him to terminate it for free.Just the €700 million difference between what Messi believes he can leave for and what the club wants for him then…Even if you discard what would surely be a world-record transfer fee, Messi is going to break the bank for any club in the world.He’s picking up close to a million pounds every week at Barca and, at this stage in his career, he would cost an obscene amount of money for just a few years of service.p1egl8pvlf56lv93ko51mdu243h.jpgBut who are the favourites to sign him?Well, Manchester City have emerged as front runners. Not only do they have Pep Guardiola in charge but they also have a ridiculous amount of money.Early reports suggest Messi has already been in contact with Guardiola over a possible move.

And now, according to respected journalist Francesc Aguilar from Mundo Deportivo, City are convinced they can afford the deal.

Aguilar tweeted: “The people who carry the numbers at Manchester City, led by Ferran Soriano, have made it known to Messi's environment that the club is capable of financially facing the operation, even if they were forced to pay a transfer. But they believe that it will arrive free.”

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Wow.

Being able to afford Messi is one thing but actually wanted to outlay that amount of money is another thing.

It seems strange to even contemplate turning down the greatest player to have played the game but is it really a financially sound decision to sign a 33-year-old Messi in this current economic situation?

If City decide it is, then we could well be seeing Messi in the Premier League.

But you’ve got to consider that unlikely right now.