Lionel’ Messi‘s future at Barcelona has been thrown into further doubt because the club cannot register new signings after already exceeding their wage cap, according to reports.
The Argentine great, 34, is currently unemployed after his contract expired on June 30. But the player is expected to sign a two-year extension at the Nou Camp, with the deal now under threat.
Barca are in financial disarray as a result of the pandemic, with debt standing at £1billion, and have been told by LaLiga to cut their annual salary to £300million from £331m.
According to Goal, the Catalan giants are operating beyond that figure – even without Messi signing on again.
The captain’s latest contract was worth a whopping £2.4m per week – or £123m per year.
But the report also adds Barcelona are not allowed to add new additions to their squad until they have made the necessary savings.
That means free signings Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay, and Eric Garcia as well as £6m addition to Emerson Royal will allegedly not be officially registered with LaLiga yet.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta last week urged fans to stay calm as he looks to tie up Messi’s new deal.
He said: “We want Lionel Messi to stay and Leo wants to stay.
