Messi: why can't he stay in Barcelona even if he played for free?

Lionel Messi is no longer part of Barcelona and fans continue to be dismayed by the Argentine's departure. The 10 could not stay at Barcelona even for free, is that after accepting the reduction of his salary by half. The Culé entity did not insist on hiring him and then issued the official statement that ended the relationship between the two parties.

Barcelona blames La Liga for the end of the Messi era. The cold text speaks of "economic and structural obstacles". It refers to the economic controls to which the club is subjected and which force it to regulate its expenses.

Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, had made it clear that there would be no safe-conduct for Barcelona to seal his continuity in the team. And he reminded the club executives he met with that the shortcut of an ambassadorial contract was not possible. He did so once the five-year scheme that had been put on the table for the Rosario-born player was revealed: two as a player and another three as the face of the club abroad.

The first year of the contract would be the least expensive of all, estimated at around 20 million euros, just 14.5% of what he received last season. This salary reduction had a clear objective: to bring the club's expenses within the limits set by La Liga.