Barcelona's wage bill plans put Messi deal in doubt
FT Desk
- 7 Oct 2022 17:11 BST
- 3 min read
Lionel Messi has been linked with a sensational return to Barcelona from PSG, but their planned salary cap means that they might not be able to afford him.
Messi left on a free transfer last summer with Barca €1.35 billion in debt and unable to afford his contract. He joined Paris Saint-Germain, and this season has eight goals and assists from 13 games from all competitions.
But his contract at Parc des Princes expires next summer, and Barca head coach Xavi, among others at the club, has previously expressed their desire to see Messi return to Camp Nou.
15 years ago today, Lionel Messi did THIS 🐐pic.twitter.com/sLrnS12Jdo
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) April 18, 2022
Messi may not cost a transfer fee if he did return, but he is reportedly earning €3.375m per month in the French capital, and he wouldn't come cheap. Indeed, his wage demands could derail the deal.
"The club's intention is clear," write Spanish newspaper Sport. "In the 24/25 season, Barca's first-team wage bill must not exceed €500 million - numbers that are currently exceeded and that the club is already working to lighten in the coming years."
Barca have previously announced that they would make a profit of €274 this season, having activated "financial levers" - the sale of a percentage of future revenues in return for liquid capital now.
Wage bill still heavy
But Messi's salary demands would clearly move the needle in the wrong direction.
Barca thought they would have cleared out more than just Philippe Coutinho's and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's salaries this summer, the pair having moved to Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively.
Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay stayed against the odds, but four club captains - Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique, Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba - are out of contract in the coming seasons.
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Xavi has also softened his tone of late, no doubt having spoken to those upstairs.
"You know the love I have for him," he said of Messi ahead of Barca's meeting with Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.
"He's a friend and I will always wish him the best. Barca is his home, but we're not doing him any favours speaking about [his future], either.
"Let's leave him in peace to enjoy his time in Paris and wish him all the best."
