Adidas to assist Man Utd in £200m bid for Messi

Manchester United may get help from their new sponsors, Adidas, to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona.
United have joined Chelsea in the race to sign Messi, who has opened the door to a possible transfer with some cryptic comments recently.
Adidas sponsors Messi and the manufacturer will be United’s shirt supplier next season, and they want to bring the two together.
Adidas could supposedly give United extra money to help them pay Messi’s £200m release clause, while other cash might be given to pay wages.
The Blues recently distanced themselves from the prospect of making a swoop for the Argentinian superstar, with assistant coach, Steve Holland, suggesting that financial fair play restraints would hinder any transfer.
“When you look at the numbers being mentioned around the Messi deal, I think it’s almost an impossible deal for any club working within the restraints of financial fair play,” he said.
Messi has also been linked with Chelsea.
Speculation continues to mount over Messi’s future and the player himself admitted at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony last week that he did not know where he would be next season.
Former Barcelona assistant manager, Henk ten Cate, has claimed that Messi has remained at the Nou Camp because of a promise he made to Tito Vilanova on his deathbed.
“As far as I know, these problems all started about two years ago,” he said. “Messi is only still at Barcelona because he promised Tito Vilanova on his deathbed.
“But I think a transfer would be in everybody’s best interest,” he added.