The Lionel Messi’s departure from PSG in June seems to be set and now remains to be known who will be the Argentine star’s new (or old?) team. An inevitable candidate appears among them: o Barcelona. However, beyond the desire that may exist on the part of the Spanish team and Messi himself, there is rules and regulations that complicate signing.
What is the situation, how do these rules work and what should Barcelona do to sign Messi? Details below.
Financial Fair Play, an old problem in the Barcelona-Messi relationship
The UEFA introduced it Financial Fair Play from the 2011-2012 seasonFor settle the accounts of their teams and to avoid large expenses, without the financial support for their implementation. Basically, the rules show balances the clubs’ expenses and incomewith different types of penalties for those who do not follow these regulations.
In 2021, it was exactly the financial Fair Play and the rules of La Liga prevented Lionel Messi’s renewal with Barcelona and forced his subsequent signing with the psg. Today, two years later, this problem is again taking center stage for a potential negotiation between player, the Catalan team and the competition itself.
Currently, there is a regulation that indicates teams can only spend the 40% of money saved. And in the case of Barcelona, different reports state this they have to reduce their wage bill by about 250 million euros (from about 650 to 400 million)to be able not only to sign Messi, but also to carry out the relevant registrations of the renewed players.
Barca’s priority would be on the former solve these inscriptionswith notable names such as Gavi or Ronald Araujo, including. They would then continue to study possible renovations of the current squad (Busquets, for example) and only when these two issues were resolved would they signatures.
What should Barcelona do to sign Messi? Payroll and potential sales and exits
The fundamental point concerns this huge reduction in wages, which should remain close to 400 million euros. For that culés They will not only fit into first team football, but also in other areas. For example, his decision end with Barça TVleaving 150 workers at the brand jobless.
But of course, to get to those big numbers that are necessary, the key will be what happens to the team that Xavi manages today. The first thing to say about this is that Barca have almost no contracts expiring in 2023, so they won’t get a significant cut this way. The only relevant exception is Sergio Busquets, one of the players better payouts of the team, which still does not know if it will continue beyond June. If he does, it will be with a pay cut that promises to be significant.
In addition, it is worth remembering that for 2023-2024 the Catalans will no longer have to face Gerard Pique’s high salarywho retired in the current 2022-2023 campaign.
The other way for this salary reduction is his discounts. And there you will probably see various Barca moves. Ansu Fati He is one of the players that other teams demand, although from the player’s environment they ensure his continuity in Barcelona. Franck Kessié, Ferran Torres and Jordi Alba They are other players heavily rumored to leave.
In turn, Barca could also try to make one reducing salaries of players under contract (There is talk of Frenkie de Jong and Marc-André ter Stegen), although obviously that lever it is not simple at all.
Another relevant point in this story is the renovation of its stadium. Remember that Barcelona will play the 2023-2024 season in Montjuïc Olympic Stadiumwith a capacity close to 50% of what the Camp Nou currently offers, it will therefore suffer a significant drop in match revenue.
On the other hand, it is necessary to keep in mind that the possible signing of Lionel Messi would be like free playerlike that culés they should not pay money for your transportation, but simply claim your tab. Which, of course, would also be one of the highest on the team.
