FC Barcelona plan to sell one of their defenders in order to facilitate Lionel Messi’s return, a … [+]
FC Barcelona could sell one of their star defenders this summer in order to facilitate Lionel Messi’s return to the club, according to a report from madrid-barcelona.com.
Gerard Romero reported on Thursday that Barca are close to receiving the green light from La Liga in order to re-sign Messi.
This has been achieved through presenting a viability plan mapping out how the Catalans can make the transfer work when Messi becomes a free agent on June 30, amid Barca being mired in debts and needing to shave €200 million ($218 million) from the wage bill as warned by the Spanish top flight’s president Javier Tebas.
According to Romero, Barca have promised that they will make two big player sales in order to capture Messi and three other new players.
Barca fans and pundits are immediately drawn to think of players such as misfit wingers Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati – who all have potential markets in the PremierPINC -0.2% League – heading for the chopping block.
With Raphinha and Torres both costing north of €55 million ($60.4 million) in 2022 when variables are added on, however, Fati is arguably the most saleable asset of the three. The Guinea-born sensation was reared in the La Masia academy making his potential transfer present pure profit for the club, but nothing should be ruled out for any of the forwards.
Last summer, president Joan Laporta did his utmost to offload Frenkie de Jong and even accepted an €85 million ($93 million) bid for him from Manchester United according to The Athletic only for the Dutchman to refuse to move.
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Almost 12 months on, it is unlikely that the midfielder will be sold with his recent absence through injury costing Xavi Hernandez’s men in the 4-0 Copa del Rey semi-final second leg thrashing to Real Madrid and back-to-back 0-0 draws in La Liga with Girona and Getafe.
Along the back line, however, Jules Kounde could be moved on despite joining from Sevilla in 2022 for €55 million ($60.4 million). At the same time, Barca can also profit on Andreas Christensen given he joined on a free from Chelsea ahead of this term.
With either of these potential sales fetching up to €60 million ($66 million), a record-breaking defense that has leaked just 9 goals in 29 La Liga matches this term would be broken up.
It’s difficult to believe that Laporta and Xavi would consider this as anything but a last resort, though, especially with central defender Kounde playing so well at right back.
According to SPORT, Barca might not even make a reinforcement in the position this summer such has been the Frenchman’s success.
As the rumours of Lionel Messi returning to FC Barcelona continue to heat up, Gerard Romero has provided a fresh update on the chances of the Argentine’s comeback.
As per the transfer insider, the chances of Messi returning to Barça, at this point, are at 80%.
Romero claims that Barcelona and La Liga are in constant discussions over the club’s economic viability plan which needs to be approved for them to re-sign and register Messi.
And as per the plan proposed by the Blaugrana, they are set to make two important sales in the summer along with some salary reductions in order to bring the 35-year-old Argentina captain back to the club.
And he adds that the chances of La Liga giving the green light to the operation are increasing.
This is certainly a huge step in the right direction for Barcelona in their pursuit of Messi.
Having been forced to part ways with him in 2021 due to the club’s poor financial health, Joan Laporta & co. could now be inching closer and closer to bringing the record Ballon d’Or winner back home for one last dance.
Recent reports suggest that Barça plan to offer Messi a two-year contract worth €13 million per season (net), so that the club legend can play at the renovated Camp Nou and retire there, if he chooses to do so.
La Liga president Javier Tebas insisted on Wednesday that the Blaugrana had a lot of work to do in order to re-sign Messi.
Should the aforementioned conditions regarding two important departures and salary cuts for other players are met, Messi will very much likely return to Barcelona, claims Romero.
As for the two important sales that are being planned, Romero does not mention any names but it must be remembered that the likes of Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres and even veteran left-back Jordi Alba have all been linked with exits ahead of the summer window.
Sergio Busquets’ future is also still uncertain as he has not signed the renewal agreement. Even if he renews, the midfielder will be doing so at a much lower salary than he currently earns. There could be a salary cut for Alba as well, in case the club do not sell him.
All in all, chances of Messi returning to Barcelona are increasing by the day.
Source: barcauniversal.com, forbes.com
