LALIGA
Lionel Messi’s possible Barcelona return delayed: when will LaLiga decide on Barça’s financial viability plan?
La Blaugrana must cut their wage bill by €200 million before adding to their roster for the 2023-24 season.
The possibility of a sensational return to Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain attacker Lionel Messi has made headlines of late but the club will have to put their plans to re-sign their former star man on the back burner...at least for now.
Barcelona’s financial viability plan
LaLiga has requested an extra two weeks to study the financial viability plan Barça have presented to them, according to EFE sources. The Catalan club had expected to be given the green light on Monday to start structuring its roster for the next two seasons, with the proposal outlining how they would cut their wage bill by €200 million (circa $216 million) to comply with the league’s Financial Fair Play regulations.
If and when the plan is approved, the club will be able to register new contracts for Gavi, Ronald Araújo, Marcos Alonso, Sergi Roberto and Iñaki Peña, as well as return to the 1/1 rule (one new player can join on a contract that has the same value as one player who leaves) in the next summer transfer window.
Barça hoping for Champions League resurgence
To challenge for the Champions League as well as defending their LaLiga title, Barcelona know they need to strengthen their roster, which means they will also have to move players on. Messi would be the most high-profile new signing, which the club have been working on for some time. However, they face a nervous wait in the next couple of weeks to see if the league gives them the go-ahead .