The ‘Messi Museum’: how Barcelona plan to afford to re-sign PSG superstar Lionel Messi

Barcelona are planning to use their La Masia youth academy as their latest financial lever as they try to bring Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi back to the club in June. The club is looking into the possibility of converting the former headquarters of the academy, which is located next to Camp Nou, into a Messi-themed museum.

Barça have held talks with Spanish telecommunications company Telefónica about turning the building into an interactive museum, which would be a world leader in its use of cutting-edge technology, dedicated to the Argentina captain. According to the club’s business plan, the ‘Messi Museum’ would attract thousands of tourists and fans from around the globe, which would go some way to funding their move to bring the Argentine back to Camp Nou.

Barcelona’s attempts to persuade Messi to return

As already confirmed by AS, Laporta has met with Messi’s father Jorge in the Catalan capital, Barça boss Xavi Hernández has made frequent calls to convince his ex-teammate to return and the player himself has made regular visits to his former home city. Turning La Masia into a homage to Messi would not just be a way for Barcelona to be able to afford him, but the club hope it would pull at his heartstrings and persuade him to come ‘home’.

LaLiga FFP an obstacle

But if they are to re-sign Messi, Barcelona will not only have to generate more income, they will also have to slash their wage bill if they are to comply with LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play regulations and be able to add to their roster for next season. LaLiga president Javier Tebas has already told Laporta that he will help him in any way possible, as long as Barça follow the rules.

It would also be LaLiga’s best interests to see Messi back on Spanish soil as, since both the Argentine and Cristiano Ronaldo left, the value of the league’s television rights has stagnated in comparison to rival competitions.