Lionel Messi is expected to return to Barcelona this summer, as his contract with PSG is set to run out. He isn’t close to a renewal and reportedly has his heart set on a return to his former club. But it won’t be as simple as a free transfer under normal conditions. 

The same financial problems that forced Barcelona to part ways with him still exist. And La Liga has asked them to reduce their wage bill by around €200 million this summer in order to keep with Financial Fair Play restrictions. As a result, it is yet unclear whether the Spanish side will be able to pull the deal off. 

Lionel Messi’s Barcelona contract to have a clause where he can leave for free 

This past summer, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie all had a clause inserted in their contracts where they could leave for free if they weren’t registered with La Liga by a certain date. None of them actually left the club, in spite of the delay. But, it seems like Lionel Messi will also have the same kind of clause in his contract if he joins. 

If Messi’s contract isn’t registered by July 21, then he will have the option to walk away, according to El Mundo. Barcelona also plan on registering new contracts for Ronald Araujo and Gavi. And in addition, they are also anticipating Inigo Martinez and Ilkay Gundogan joining the club as free agents. 

Their salaries are not known yet, but will have to be kept to a nominal amount in order to comply with the restrictions. The expectation, however, is that Messi’s arrival will bring in a huge boost of revenue that will allow them to cope.