Lionel Messi is said to be losing around €100,000 (£86,000) a day following his departure from Barcelona last month.
Messi, who is currently on international duty with Argentina where he helped his country win the Copa America against Brazil, is now a free agent after a tumultuous year with Barcelona.
The 34-year-old’s future remains undecided, although Ronald Koeman has ‘full confidence’ in president Joan Laporta to re-sign their star man despite the club’s financial crisis.
Messi has remained coy about whether he will stay with the Catalan giants, who are in a deep financial crisis that is one of the biggest barriers to keeping hold of their talisman.
Messi’s decision to stall over a new contract with the club has resulted in a loss of €100,000 (£86,000) a day, according to French outlet L’Equipe.
The Argentina international previously earned €139m gross per year. However, should he sign a new contract with the Catalans, that figure will decrease significantly.
Barcelona are in a financial crisis after exceeding LaLiga’s strict salary limit by a 40 per cent.
The league’s Financial Fair Play rules limit what each club spends on salaries every season.
According to Catalan radio RAC 1, Barcelona’s limit was £296m (€347m) last year and now it’s £136m (€160m).
Therefore, the Catalan giants need to wipe 187m euros off their existing wage bill to be within an acceptable bracket.
Unfortunately for Barca, the Argentine is said not to be in a charitable mood – having given he has done nothing but bring revenue and trophies for the last 15 years.
COMMENTS