La Liga president Javier Tebas has warned that Barcelona risk not being able to register Lionel Messi if they do not reduce their salary costs for working within the league’s salary cap.
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The Argentine superstar’s contract at Camp Nou expires at the end of June and no news has yet come about a renewed deal.
Messi sent shock waves around the world last year when he expressed his desire to leave Barça, but after staying at the club, he has served his entire professional career, it seemed as if he would write new terms this summer.
Of course, there is still time for an agreement to be reached, but ESPN reports that La Liga president Tebas has now thrown a key to the work by claiming that Barcelona will not be able to register Messi even if he signs a new deal if they do not trim their salary.
The Spanish top flight insists that all sides work within a salary cap – a figure that varies depending on the income from each club.
Lionel Messi’s contract negotiations may be on the verge of a stumbling block / David Ramos / Getty Images
Back in 2019/20, Barça had the highest ceiling in the league at EUR 671 million (EUR 575 million), but when La Liga reduced the ceiling to EUR 382.7 million (EUR 328 million) in 2020/21, Blaugrana was forced to tighten its handbags slightly and could not secure the planned signing of Memphis Depay in September last year.
After announcing that the Dutchman has now arrived at Camp Nou along with other summer contracts Eric Garcia, Sergio Aguero and Emerson Royal, Barça’s wage costs have risen again and they will then be forced to endure cuts in other areas if they meet Messi’s requirements and stay within their salary cap.
If they fail to find the right balance, Tebas has warned that they risk not being able to register their talisman and may stop paying their massive salaries without actually being able to put him in charge of any of their ligatures.
Tebas has insisted that he hopes Messi stays in Barcelona, but the club will need to make some changes if a profitable deal is to be achieved.
Javier Tebas has issued a warning to Barcelona / Carlos Alvarez / Getty Images
“Barcelona has exceeded their salary cap,” he said. “I hope they can keep Messi, but to do that they have to make cuts elsewhere.
“The severity of the situation depends on the resources they can generate. Barça will have to restructure their debt. If they can do that, the situation will not get serious.”
