Lionel Messi transfer news continues to dominate discussions around the Camp Nou this week, and according to fresh reports, his former club Barcelona have until the end of April to prove their affordability, if they are serious about re-signing him.
Lionel Messi Transfer News
La Liga chief Javier Tebas has this week re-opened the door for the league’s greatest ever player, admitting he would love Lionel Messi to return to Spain.
However, the league itself and Barcelona have been embroiled in a feud for several seasons over the club’s heavy-handed approach to salaries and transfer fees, with former president Josep Bartomeu piling on billions of euros worth of debt.
Returning president Joan Laporta has steadied the ship by enacting a handful of ‘economic levers,‘ which effectively sees them outsource their merchandising and broadcasting rights for short-term injections of cash.
However, they have faced strong opposition from La Liga, who blocked the registration of Gavi and Marcos Alonso recently due to the club’s financial shortcomings.
According to the league, they need to balance the books by around 200 million euros by next season in order to register new players.
The Blaugrana’s vice president Rafa Yuste has already confirmed the club’s intention to bring back Lionel Messi this summer, just two years after he was forced out the club after La Liga deemed his new deal unviable, in accordance with their salary cap.
Javier Tebas has provided fresh hope however, saying the league would welcome him back with opens arms, but also admitted that Barca are some way off proving their affordability.
La Liga president Tebas again on Messi deal for Barça: “We are still awaiting a feasibility plan from Barcelona. They need a big effort to make it happen”. 🔵🔴🇦🇷 #FCB
“They can sell players, for sure — but they still have some players to register too”. pic.twitter.com/55biMaf1vS
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 19, 2023
“Today they can not register Messi, but hopefully they manage it,” he said.
“We are waiting for a viability plan, they can sell players, [but] today it is difficult. Hopefully, as a league, Barca will make the necessary moves for Messi to come, but we will not change any rules so that they can sign Messi.
“That is what we expect. I would like Messi to play in this competition.”
It is more than likely Messi will have to take a significant pay cut if he is to return to Catalonia.
According to RAC1’s Roger Saperas, they will need to submit a thorough affordability plan to La Liga by April 30th. This will likely be achieved by trimming down parts of the squad, and reducing existing salaries where possible.
Messi’s current PSG contract runs out this summer, and it appears renewal talks with the Parisians have collapsed as he eyes a fairytale return to the city he called home for over two decades.
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