Barcelona Is almost bankrupt. After threatening to launch a dragged-out expensive legal battle this summer, FC-Barcelona cowed its legend, Lionel Messi, into staying, as he sought to flee the club this past summer. Since then, financial issues, poor performances, and the continued implosion have eventually cost club president Josep Maria Bartomeu Floreta his job, and the news coming out of Barcelona has been as bad as the team’s performance on the field. The gloom and doom lead one to ask, what happened there? Did success eventually doom the club?
Now Barcelona is admitting that it can no longer afford to pay Messi his full salary – after almost declaring war on him for wanting to leave this summer. Barcelona’s presidential candidate, Emili Rousaud – the man seeking to replace Josep Maria Bartomeu Floreta, claims that the 32-year-old superstar’s $120 million salary is unsustainable.
Messi is out of contract next summer and can talk to clubs from January 1st, 2021. Manchester City, where he would join his friend Pep Guardiola, seems to be the top contender for Leo’s wares. But there are also rumors that Paris Saint-Germain is in the running – that Messi might leave Barcelona to join Neymar at PSG, with Kylian Mbappe set for Real Madrid transfer next summer.
But Messi is ready to finally leave at the end of this season, with Barca presidential candidate Emili Rousaud claiming the 32-year-old superstar’s $120 million salary is unsustainable. Rousaud said Messi would have to accept a reduced salary if they could “convince” him to stay with Barcelona.
Rousaud sees things this way: “In the club’s current situation, Messi’s salary is not sustainable, so we’ll have to reach an agreement with him. We will present an attractive project to him. What matters most here is the sporting project. When Messi said he was leaving, he didn’t mention money. He has the highest salary in the world, no one earns more than him. He doesn’t want to leave because he earns too little. He wants to leave because he wants to win trophies. He referred to that recently when he said ‘the Champions League is not within our reach.’ He wants a team full of talent.”
Messi is indeed the highest-paid footballer in the world – making more than his even arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo. But regardless of how much you love the sport, who wants to be paid less than what they believe they are worth? That’s like a spousal abuser “convincing” his spouse to stay with all kinds of sweet talk, but also by reducing her allowance.
Man City, on the other hand, could easily afford to meet those salary demands if they are able to land Messi as a free agent when his contract expires in June.
Stay tuned.
