Barcelona endured a testing summer which saw them have to pull several financial levers as they tried to balance their books, while continuing to strengthen Xavi’s first team squad.
They spent £145m during the transfer window on several signings but their monetary constraints saw them unable to register these new additions at the beginning of the transfer window, leaving the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde in limbo.
However, the Catalan club were able to generate the funds needed by partly selling off future TV rights income and Barca Studios – their in-house media production stable.
However, their wage bill still sits at a whopping £546m and according to Spanish publication Sport, they want to reduce this figure by a further £150m, with the ideal wage bill being seen as someway between £376m to £402m.
The report goes onto state that the departures of club captains and legends Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique have already been factored in to this planned reduction.
Busquets has made 685 appearances for Barcelona, while Pique has played 608 times and Alba has racked up 433 games, so their departures would garner much sadness for supporters of the Catalan giants.
However, they will be appeased by the club’s vice-president of economics Eduard Romeu claiming that it could result in Lionel Messi making a sensational return to the club, with Romeu saying this would be financially ‘possible’.
Messi departed Barcelona last summer to join PSG amid the Catalan giants’ financial issues, but his contract with the Ligue 1 side is due to expire in 2023.
The Argentine forward is expected to make a decision on his future after the World Cup in Qatar, and Romeu has declared that Barcelona could afford to bring Messi back to the Nou Camp.
