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 global 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.
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.
Visiting 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.
