Barcelona vice president Eduard Romeu claims that superstar Lionel Messi could return to the club next summer. His comments come just a couple of months after team president Joan Laporta said Messi’s time with the club “is not over”.
The Argentine striker surprised many in the football world when he left Spain for PSG last year. Although Messi apparently had a contract agreement with Barca, financial problems within the club blocked the deal.
Romeu spoke on Wednesday about Barça’s financial situation. However, it was his comments about Messi that caught people’s attention. “Economically it would be possible because if [Messi] back, it would be as a free agent,” Romeu said. “But it is a decision that the coaching staff and the player have to make. it doesn’t correspond to me [to make those decisions]but it would be feasible.
Possibility of a return of Messi to Barcelona
The financial problems within the club will apparently ease next summer. “Barça next summer will not have economic problems with the structure that we have set up,” continued Romeu. “Another thing is that we have established some ratios that must be followed.”
Romeu also referred to the concern about the salary of the club’s players. “With the wage bill, the problem is putting your hand in people’s wallets and that is very complicated. There are signed contracts and we do not breach them. However, 150 million euros have been reduced.
Obviously, these reductions could help Messi return to Barca in 2023. The superstar was previously earning $168.5 million per year before moving to PSG. The Ligue 1 club is interested in keeping Messi and extending his contract for another year.
PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi has not been shy about his feelings towards Barca’s recent sale of business assets. “Is it fair? No, it’s not fair… Is it legal? I’m not sure,” al-Khelaifi said on Wednesday. “If they allow it, others will do the same. UEFA, of course, has its own [financial] regulations Surely they will look at everything ”.
The two great teams could face a difficult battle for the soccer superstar next summer.
PHOTO: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire
