Lionel Messi wages at Barcelona have been sorted: How they got £230m to finance the deal

FC Barcelona has been given a lifeline ahead of the season in finalising Lionel Messi's new contract at Camp Nou. The Argentine captain had dropped into free agency at the end of June after his current deal with Barcelona expired. The club had renegotiated a new deal with him but have been unable to register him due to salary cap rules now in effect in La Liga.

Barcelona has had to face many financial struggles this summer with over £1bn in debt and a number of high-earners on their wage list. Thus,  they have had to sell-off or loan out lots of players from a bloated first-team squad. Other high-earners like Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti have been approached to take a 40% cut in wages in return for longer contracts. This is following a reported 50% cut in the wages of Lionel Messi also. 

However, the Joan Laporta-led management has been given a lifeline by the recent £2.3bn investment package in the La Liga by CVC Investments. Barcelona will be entitled to £230m of the investment package, an amount they'll most likely re-invest in their playing squad. With the money from the investment package, Lionel Messi is expected to sign his contract this week and become an official player of the club again. This would also help them sign-up new players like Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia to their respective contracts. 

This is a huge breakthrough for Barcelona as they step up preparations for their first game of the season against  Real Sociedad. Ronald Koeman's side has not been able to count on his captain during pre-season because Messi is not officially an employee of the club. Lionel Messi remains crucial to the club's plans with his mid-term future already settled with another 5-year contract.