Transfer Centre

Lionel Messi 'will leave Barcelona if he refuses pay cut'

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 14 December 2020

Barcelona presidential candidate Emili Rousaud states that Lionel Messi will have to leave the club next summer if he does not take a pay cut.

Barcelona presidential candidate Emili Rousaud has stated that Lionel Messi will have to leave the club next summer if he does not take a pay cut.

Messi was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City last summer and they are still believed to be interested in reuniting Pep Guardiola with the Argentine, while Paris Saint-Germain are also keen to bring the 33-year-old to the French capital to play alongside former teammate Neymar.

The chances of Messi finishing his career at the Catalan club also remain a possibility, but Rousaud has claimed that the Barca legend, who earns around £500,000 per week, would have to take a pay cut if he is to stay at Camp Nou.

"We'll have to sit down with Messi and ask him to make a salary cut. Right now, with things as they are, it's unsustainable," Rousaud told Catalan newspaper ARA.

"We'll ask him to make the sacrifice. If there's no agreement, then Messi will leave.

"Messi has written the most brilliant pages in the club's history. We have to honour our legends, but the reality is what it is. We'll make every effort to ensure he stays, but always with the interests of the club first."

Messi, who scored the winner in Sunday's 1-0 victory over Levante, has struggled for form so far this season with Barcelona sitting nine points behind Real Sociedad at the top of La Liga.