Barcelona financial crisis: where does it place Messi and others?

The Catalans are keen on keeping their star man Messi who is already a free agent after his previous deal with the club expired.

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi is already a free agent after his contract with Barcelona expired recently, but the club is eager to extend his stay at the Camp Nou.

However, the La Liga club is finding it difficult to secure a deal and register their new signings, which brings the question why?

It is understood that Messi himself wants to sign a two-year deal with the club. Club president Joan Laporta confirms that talks are ongoing between the two parties and Messi will stay put.

While negotiations continue to go on, a salary cap is a factor affecting the progress of the negotiation between the two parties, as well as the club’s ability to register new players.

According to Goal, Messi intends to remain at Camp Nou and he’s eager to sign a two-year contract with the club.

Barca are desperate to keep their talisman and captain at the club, but financial issues continues to be a stumbling block.

With a report released today, Barcelona are €1.2 billion (£1.1b/$1.5b) in debt which is making it difficult when it comes to negotiating new contracts and adding new faces to the team.

In the case of Messi, the main issue with his contract is the salary limit that has been imposed on Barca by La Liga.

During the 2020-21 campaign, Barcelona exceeded the salary limit imposed on them by La Liga. However, La Liga chief Javier Tebas has made it clear that there would be no exceeding the salary limit this time.

Messi has a status as the highest-paid player in the world, which makes it difficult when it comes to negotiating a new contract with him. As it stands, Barca cannot afford to renew his contract. If he (Messi) were to stay, he would have to take a 70% (or more) pay-cut.

However, the club’s financial situation does not only affect Messi.

Barcelona cannot register summer signings Eric Garcia, Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay and Emerson due to this circumstances.

What this means for Barcelona is that selling players becomes a necessity. They would have to offload first-team players to cut their wage bill.