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Barcelona 'have to free up £171m if Lionel Messi signs new deal'

Barcelona 'have to free up £171m if Messi signs new deal'
© Reuters
Barcelona must reportedly trim £171m from their wage bill if their attempts to tie Lionel Messi down to a new contract prove successful.

Barcelona will supposedly have to cut £171m from their wage bill if Lionel Messi ends up penning a new deal with the club.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner tried and failed to force an exit last year, but president Joan Laporta is increasingly confident that fresh terms can ultimately be agreed before next season.

With La Blaugrana battling debts close to €1bn (£859m), the club are understandably focusing on the signings of free agents such as Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia while Messi's contract situation is prioritised.

According to RAC1, Messi renewing his deal would force Barcelona to free up £171m in wages, which could lead to a mass Camp Nou exodus involving several fringe players.

Philippe Coutinho, Samuel Umtiti, Miralem Pjanic and Junior Firpo are among those facing uncertain futures in Catalonia, while French duo Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele have also been linked with exits in recent weeks.

Messi ended the 2020-21 season with 38 goals and 14 assists under his belt from 47 appearances, and he boasts one goal and one assist from three Copa America matches for Argentina so far.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona12110140112933
2Real Madrid1173121111024
3Atletico MadridAtletico126511871123
4Villarreal116322019121
5Osasuna126331716121
6Athletic Bilbao125431812619
7Real BetisBetis125431210219
8Mallorca12534109118
9Rayo Vallecano114431210216
10Celta Vigo125161820-216
11Real Sociedad124351010015
12GironaGirona124351517-215
13Sevilla124351217-515
14AlavesAlaves124171419-513
15Leganes122551216-411
16Getafe12174810-210
17Espanyol123181122-1110
18Las PalmasLas Palmas122371321-89
19Real ValladolidValladolid12228924-158
20Valencia11146817-97


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