FC Barcelona are giving away players in order to be able to afford Messi
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Lionel Messi has not officially been under contract with FC Barcelona since July 1st. To change this, the world club is resorting to unusual means
What: REUTERS
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FC Barcelona is facing a huge mountain of debt. Lionel Messi is now officially no longer part of the team. In order to be able to pay the superstar again in the future, the world club has to go an unusual way.
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Dhe need seems great at Camp Nou. In order to be able to pay superstar Lionel Messi in the future, FC Barcelona is letting some seasoned professionals move for free, according to the Spanish media. This applies above all to the French defender Samuel Umtiti and the Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic, reported the Catalan specialist newspaper “Mundo Deportivo” on Sunday.
Barça want to save on salaries in order to offer Messi a new contract and at the same time to be able to comply with the requirements of the Spanish league on financial fair play. Both Umtiti, 27, and Pjanic, 31, played no role in coach Ronald Koeman’s plans, the usually well-informed paper wrote. The internet portal transfermarkt.de estimates the value of Pjanic at 20 million euros, Umtiti is still worth 8 million euros.
Financial fair play in Spain is primarily about the total amount of wages paid. There have been salary caps there for some time now, which the league sets anew each season for all professional clubs depending on their financial situation. Because of the corona consequences, the limits have recently been significantly reduced.
Messi’s future uncertain
Four days after the contract between Messi and Barça ended, the future of the 34-year-old superstar remained uncertain. The Argentine has so far not commented on his plans for the new season. He shines at the Copa America in Brazil. In the 3-0 “Selección” quarter-finals against Ecuador, he prepared the first two goals on Saturday evening in Goiania, the 3-0 he scored with a free kick.
Lionel Messi is currently fighting for the title with Argentina at the Copa America
Source: AP / Andre Penner
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Messi has “only one thing on his mind” these days, wrote the Argentine sports newspaper “Olé” on Sunday: He wanted to bring the Copa to Argentina and finally win his first important title with his country’s national team. Argentina last won the South American tournament 28 years ago. In the semifinals, Colombia is now waiting for Messi & Co. In the final, it could be a top duel with hosts Brazil.
The media in Barcelona and Argentina have been claiming for days that Messi wants to stay in Barcelona at least for the next two years. That is also the wish of his family, his wife Antonella and his three little boys Thiago, Mateo and Ciro.
