Lionel Messi's stay at Barcelona suffers huge setback as club's debt rises to £1bn
- Lionel Messi could be offloaded by Barcelona as club debt nears £1bn
- La Blaugrana have also incurred debts from players salaries in the next four years
- Reports claim the signing of Dembele, Coutinho and Griezmann have also contributed to the current crisis
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Lionel Messi's hopes of signing a new deal with Barcelona has just taken a tumble as reports reveal that the club is owing nearly £1billion, Daily Mail.
La Blaugrana were expected to have raked the same amount in a single season as income but the goalbal pandemic dealt a huge blow to the club's finances.
The incoming president will meet a €420m debt owed in the next one year when he resumes duties as Barca's top club administrator by the end of January.
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Ex-president Josep Bartomeu was able to convince players to have a huge wage pay cut of €170m for the initial €355m annually salary of players.
But €45m extra is due to players' in terms of bonuses and other benefits in each year for the next four seasons.
The club currently spent 70 per cent of its budget on transfers and wages more than any other team in world football.
The €791million budget based income that will be made when fans return to watch matches by February has now become unrealistic.
Visting fans too would generate an estimated €320m from gate-takings, museum visits and merchandize sales seem to be impossible.
Bartomeu has been blamed for making high-profile signings during his tenure including the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Philippe Coutinho and Antoine Griezmann.
The high wage bill in the Barcelona squad has affected Messi who has complained about the €39m payment due to him as part of his contract.
The money was paid when last was season concluded in July but reports claim that the same amount has been incurred in wages for the next four years.
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Legit.ng had earlier reported that Lionel Messi staying at Barcelona to witness the opening of the new Camp Nou is a priority, presidential candidate Joan Laporta reveals, Goal.
The Argentine is poised to leave the club at the end of the season with Paris Saint-German and Manchester City standing on the wings for a potential transfer.
The 33-year-old is in the last six months of his current deal at Camp Nou and is allowed to speak to other clubs.
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