The biggest news around Barcelona today is of course the fact Lionel Messi is no longer contracted to the Catalan club. Seeing his deal expire at the end of June, the Argentina international is now a free agent and in theory can do what he likes with regards to his ongoing career.
Over in the Catalan media there’s been great confidence that the general terms of an agreement have already been agreed, and now it’s just a case of the legal teams getting to work to finalise things.
Wednesday saw claims that Barcelona had wanted to announce the renewal on Messi’s birthday last week, and then pencilled in June 29th, which is Joan Laporta’s birthday.
Those dates were missed and now patience is needed.
Messi isn’t the only issue facing Barcelona right now, report Sport. The Catalan newspaper details the five transfer ‘dramas’ the Blaugrana have to deal with in the coming days and weeks.
The Frenchman’s latest injury makes an exit unlikely, so the issue with him is sorting a renewal so he can’t leave on a free next summer.
Sport explain that aside from Roberto, the players are something of a ‘toxic group’, quite happy to sit around not having much involvement but still picking up huge wages.
They don’t want to reduce their salaries and it’s stated even sitting them in the stands wouldn’t have a big impact, because the players wouldn’t be horrified with the prospect.
Therefore, Barcelona’s route out could be offering free transfers, and potentially even paying players to leave.
