Barcelona gets rid of its players for free to secure Messi's salary
Media reports in Spain revealed that the Spanish football club Barcelona is considering dispensing players without transfer fees so that in the future it can pay the salary of its star Lionel Messi.
The Catalan newspaper, Mundo Deportivo, reported on Sunday that this move applies primarily to French defender Samuel Umtiti and Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic.
The newspaper pointed out that Barcelona is seeking to save on salaries so that it can offer a new contract to Messi and at the same time be able to comply with the financial fair play instructions for the Spanish League.
The well-informed newspaper added that neither Umtiti, 27, nor Pjanic, 31, play any role in coach Ronald Koeman's plans.
Financial fair play in Spain is primarily related to the total salaries paid by the club, and salary caps have been imposed for some time and the Spanish League sets these caps each season for each club according to its financial situation.
These caps have been drastically reduced due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It has been four days since Messi's contract with Barcelona, 34, expired, and the Argentine international's future with the Catalan team is still unknown, and he has never made any statements about his plans for the new season.
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