Barcelona captain Messi is 'tired and frustrated of being linked with PSG'

Lionel Messi is growing 'tired and frustrated' of constant talk of him joining Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season, according to reports.

The Barcelona captain has five months remaining on his contract at the Nou Camp and has been linked with a move away from the club after handing in a transfer request last summer.

PSG have emerged as one of the favourites to sign the forward with the French champions one of the few clubs who be able to afford his wages. However, Marca report that Messi is fed up of rumours linking him to the French champions and will not make a decision on his future until he has heard what the new Barca president has to say.

Messi will come up against Mauricio Pochettino's side this month when Barca take on the Ligue 1 side in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Manchester City have also been linked with the 34-year-old which would see him link up with former manager Pep Guardiola.

Few clubs in world football have the financial ability to match Messi's lucrative wage demands - a recent leak revealed that the combination of his fixed salary, image rights, variables and tax amounts to €555,237,619 (£492m).

As a part of his current deal, Messi earned an extra £616,172 (€695,748) for winning FIFA's Best Player award during the 2018-19 campaign.

The Argentine is also guaranteed a whopping £3.1m (€3.5m) if Barcelona win the Champions League – something the club hasn't achieved since 2015.

Other variables include Messi banking another £1.75m (€1.9m) if he plays 60 per cent of games while he will receive extra payments each knockout stage of the Champions League he reached, as well as winning LaLiga and the Copa del Rey.

Reports have suggested that Messi has been left seething by the fact somebody inside Barcelona allowed his contract to become public, and Catalan Radio show RAC1 claimed he is now in the process of taking legal action.

Barca boss Ronald Koeman came out in support of the forward and called for anyone involved at the club to be sacked.

'What has come out is intended to damage him. Messi deserves respect,' he said.

'He has done so much for Spanish football. There are people out to hurt Barcelona and Messi.

'If it turns out to be someone on the inside then that is very bad and they should have no future at the club.'

Barca have been hit hard financially by the Covid-19 pandemic meaning Messi would likely have to take a significant wage cut to stay at the Nou Camp beyond this season.

The club's latest financial figures showed they had made an £88m loss and had racked up a net debt that had doubled to £440m.

Marca's report claims that Messi does not believe his issue over signing a new contract at Barcelona has anything to do with money but being part of a sporting project that is 'focused on winning' and 'being managed properly'.