Messi

[Jeff Jones]

The deal was done for a contract at half his current wages, the Barca have found that even that is unaffordable.
They have been trying to sell players to bring in the cash, but their asking prices have been at a level that other Clubs are willing to pay, as like us their wages are very high as well.

Latest reports show him fighting back tears and expressing grief at the thought of leaving Barcelona. It might sound ridiculous, but at 34, and considering his wealth and prospects of future earnings from merchandising he could play out his career for nothing.

That would enhance his image and legacy even further.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

For the 'why doesn't he play for..? .' crowd

Just quoting this so there's a chance someone might read it as there've been a few people suggesting he should play for free since it was posted.

 

[Toast]

It's still farcical all these tears from him. It's because of the obscene contracts he's been taking for years that's put them in this mess to begin with. There's genuinely people dying all over the world (in Spain it's particularly bad) because of a pandemic and people who've lost their jobs and can't pay the bills. Yet he's wailing like a little girl because he's got to go and live in Paris and wear a different type of football kit than he's used too. Jesus wept.

He’s been the biggest Tax payer in Spain for the last 3 years since he was handed the jail sentence for dodging paying it.

Must be loads more to his contracts than meets the eye in my opinion.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Just quoting this so there's a chance someone might read it as there've been a few people suggesting he should play for free since it was posted.

Equally, however, it seems his offer of a 50% cut isn't quite as generous as he's making it out to be given that the club would have to pay it until he's 39.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

Equally, however, it seems his offer of a 50% cut isn't quite as generous as he's making it out to be given that the club would have to pay it until he's 39.

I know. I was incredulous when I heard about that master stroke from the Barça board. And if it's true that they pay him 50% over five years but he only has to play for two, that would effectively be a pay rise.

 

[tsubaki]

It's not Messi's fault that Bartomeu was the Catalan version of Peter Ridsdale.

Handing him a $555 million 4 year contract package with a $100 million signing on fee and a $77 million loyalty bonus and $2 million a week wages.

Is it no wonder Barca are in a financial mess, when Messi was getting those extortionate wages his team mates were also getting pay bumps in contract extensions, handing griezmann a €850k a week contract was another Bartomeu masterstroke in financial incompetence.

TBF given the importance (in sporting, economic and historical terms) of Messi, that contract is probably the least bad thing the idiot Bartomeu did; after all if they didn’t give him that then someone else would have.

I mean Messi at least brought money in to the club; not like Dembele and Coutinho who will when contracts and purchase price are added up have probably cost half a billion euro themselves at the end of the day.

 

[PhilM]

TBF given the importance (in sporting, economic and historical terms) of Messi, that contract is probably the least bad thing the idiot Bartomeu did; after all if they didn’t give him that then someone else would have.

I mean Messi at least brought money in to the club; not like Dembele and Coutinho who will when contracts and purchase price are added up have probably cost half a billion euro themselves at the end of the day.

I looked at the projected salaries of the Barcelona squad and it was grim reading.

 

[barneygumble]

Oh no doubting that as much as you can blame Messi, Bartomeu is the biggest problem.

But do I have sympathy? No. The fans voted him in over Laporta too.

Some of the absolutely absurd dealings, including the $555m deal for Messi include

€145m for Coutinho, €125m for Dembele, €65 (+ Arthur) for Pjanic, Andre Gomes €37m. Paulinho €40m.

Some of the wages are astronomical, they believe there were as many as 10 first teamers earning €250k a week, how's that sustainable?

 

[AdamEFC]

Oh no doubting that as much as you can blame Messi, Bartomeu is the biggest problem.

But do I have sympathy? No. The fans voted him in lol over Laporta too.

Some of the absolutely absurd dealings, including the $555m deal for Messi include

€145m for Coutinho, €125m for Dembele, €65 (+ Arthur) for Pjanic, Andre Gomes lol €37m. Paulinho €40m.

Some of the wages are astronomical, they believe there were as many as 10 first teamers earning €250k a week, how's that sustainable?

They’ve effectively been Everton on steroids

 

[tsubaki]

They’ve effectively been Everton on steroids

growth hormones surely?

 

[Deleted member 48881]

Defending Messi even in this situation.....you have no shame lol

 

[Bruce Wayne]

TBF given the importance (in sporting, economic and historical terms) of Messi, that contract is probably the least bad thing the idiot Bartomeu did; after all if they didn’t give him that then someone else would have.

I mean Messi at least brought money in to the club; not like Dembele and Coutinho who will when contracts and purchase price are added up have probably cost half a billion euro themselves at the end of the day.

I do wonder how much the likes of Dembele, Griezman, Coutinho et al had their salaries inflated somewhat by the fact that Messi's own was so high though?

 

[Yarrgh]

I do wonder how much the likes of Dembele, Griezman, Coutinho et al had their salaries inflated somewhat by the fact that Messi's own was so high though?

Probably a lot. Basket case wage structure.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Perhaps important to remember that in addition to his enormous income from that contract he signed in 2017, he was also paid €115 million for signing it, and a further €77 million as a "loyalty bonus". It's no wonder the club is €1.2 billion in debt and willing to sell their soul for this super league swollocks.

 

[EverTheOptimist]

TBF given the importance (in sporting, economic and historical terms) of Messi, that contract is probably the least bad thing the idiot Bartomeu did; after all if they didn’t give him that then someone else would have.

I mean Messi at least brought money in to the club; not like Dembele and Coutinho who will when contracts and purchase price are added up have probably cost half a billion euro themselves at the end of the day.

What a way to squander the Neymar money on Coutinho, Dembele.

Tapped both players publically with Marca, Xavi and they have "Barca DNA", agents "advising" them to not turn up for training, fake back injuries because Bartomeu offered bigger bonuses if the agents forced the moves out of the club that transfer window, all it did was emboldened both clubs who took Barcelona to the cleaners, £260 million that cost.

And you would think Bartomeu and his Idiots would have learned a harsh lesson there but no, they publically tapped up griezmann weeks after signing a new contract, that didn't transpire had to apologies to Atletico, then got a Griezmann the following summer coming off a poor season where his head was turned and signed him for €120 million and € 850k a week.

Great seeing their demise.