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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
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


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