AFCON 2025
By Chima Azu
President of La Liga Javier Tebas has admitted he sees Messi’s possible return to Barcelona as complicated but states that the move is still possible.
The Spanish giants have exceeded their salary cap by a mile and must cut down their wages before any signings or contract renewal can be completed, but that has not stopped them from wanting a mouthwatering reunion with Lionel Messi.
Barcelona are edging closer to a possible agreement to bring the World Cup winner back to Sportify Camp Nou and the Blaugrana are working tirelessly to make the deal work financially, with a number of departures in the pipeline solely to lower the wage budget enough to re-sign the Argentine.
Any potential deals must be signed off by La Liga and Tebas explained what needs to be done before Messi’s return will be approved.
“As of today, I see it as complicated,” he told RMC’s After Foot. “There is time, but there will have to be departures of players and a decrease in the wage bill. “And then there is a piece of information which we don’t know, the salary of Messi. There are still many variables to understand.”
The Argentine’s current employers, PSG have been trying to tie the 35-year-old down to a new contract but have accepted that he is unlikely to extend, with a return to Barcelona being Messi’s utmost desire.
In other boost their chances of getting a deal for Messi over the line, Barcelona are even understood to be exploring offering him a secondary role behind the scenes, which they believe could help offset some of the cost of his contract.
