Soccer
Lionel Messi’s future hopes of Barcelona or PSG crushed by La Liga chief’s stark warning on financial realities
La Liga chief Javier Tebas has said that Lionel Messi cannot join Barcelona or continue at his current club Paris Saint Germain. He stated both are financially incapable of affording Messi.
Lionel Messi is yet to sign a contract extension with his current club Paris Saint Germain. His previous contract expires this summer. Messi and his camp did have a verbal agreement to continue in Paris but the Argentine had a change of heart after winning the World Cup last year.
The most likely destinations reportedly for Messi’s next clubs are Barcelona or Inter Miami. Many Barcelona players like Ter Stegan, Ronald Araujo, and now Sergi Roberto speaking of a Messi move openly. It seems the Catalan club will be the next most possible destination for the Argentine.
Why can’t Lionel Messi join Barcelona according to Tebas?
While the 35-year-old might join Camp Nou as a free agent, he is expected to seek a large salary. Messi’s salary at the Parc des Princes this season is €34 million. Barcelona is in a bad financial situation which is the reason Messi had to even leave them in the first place.
Tebas indicated in January that Barcelona needed to cut their pay expenditure by around €200 million in order to sign new players or contracts. He has now sent a jolt to the Barcelona supporters who were hoping for Messi’s comeback.
Tebas was quoted by Mundo Deportivo saying, “Many things have to change for Leo Messi’s return to Barcelona. First off, he has to drastically lower his salary, the club must offload players and other things that they are yet to do. They are the only ones who can do it. We will not change the rules.”
He also added that PSG also cannot keep Messi, “Messi can’t be at Barcelona or PSG next season. In fact, PSG earns less money than Barcelona.”
Why is Messi close to an exit from PSG?
It is said that Messi is closer to leaving PSG rather than continuing. The main reasons are the Champions League elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich, rumors of dressing room problems, and PSG facing possible UEFA sanctions for breaching their Financial Fair Play rules. PSG is also going to have to reduce its wage bill and could see some key players leave.
Barca president, Joan Laporta, is reportedly preparing to offer Messi a very low salary to properly register him, and the club may organize a tribute match in which Messi would receive all of the earnings. This could amount to €100 million. They could also give him all of his merchandise earnings which could be around €200 million.
