Here is How Real Madrid tried to sign Messi.

Der Spiegel and Football Leaks have revealed that before signing Gareth Bale, Real Madrid contacted Messi’s entourage to offer to pay his €250m release clause, plus a €23m salary until 2021, and to confirm Real Madrid were committed to pressure Spain’s Prime Minister to make Messi’s tax problems go away if he joined the club.

But that's not all, Barcelona are again involved in dodgy dealings, this time with Messi’s foundation, which was opened in 2007, but only officially registered in 2013.

Messi and Barcelona were set to be in trouble back in 2016 for payments made to Messi through his foundation, the club made at least €5.3m in donations to Messi’s foundation and there was a big possibility that the Spanish tax authorities were going to consider it tax infractions, plunging club and player into trouble.

The club found a solution, loaning €12m for Messi to rectify his tax declarations, and later returned the money loaned to him through the renewal bonus.

Messi’s renewal bonus for signing his current Barcelona contract until 2022 was €100m, which included the €12m mentioned in the previous tweet.