Barcelona are set to introduce a fourth economic measure this week aimed at dealing with the difficulties of registering new players, however, their previous debts have not yet been fully repaid and have totaled €389 million. Of this, Lionel Messi, who has been away from the team for a year, still has a final payment amounting to €52 million, so Messi's return to Barcelona next summer appears to be a foregone conclusion.
The mismanagement of former president Badumeo coupled with the outbreak of the New Crown epidemic has left the club in debt. Previously, the club has taken several pay cuts and even postponed salary payments three times, accumulating a large amount of unpaid wages. Among them, Lionel Messi has the most unpaid wages, up to 52 million euros, as well as Bikey owing 31 million euros, Busquets 27 million euros, Pedri 23 million euros, Frankie de Jong 20 million euros and so on.
According to La Liga regulations, Barcelona must reduce their payroll from €560 million to €400 million this summer. As a result, several of the aforementioned Barcelona players will have to continue to endure delayed paychecks and accept pay cuts. Among them, De Jong not only needs to take a pay cut, but also to give up 13 million euros of unpaid wages, otherwise, he may be sold to Manchester United or Chelsea.
As for Messi's situation, Barcelona plans to wait until his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires before signing him back for free. By then, the debt will be gradually paid off as the team's finances improve.
