FC Barcelona to settle deferred wages of Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba by 2025

Barcelona has committed to completing all outstanding contract payments to Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba by the 2024/25 season, despite their departure to Inter Miami. These payments include deferred wages from the Covid-19 pandemic.

In response to the pandemic, Messi, Busquets, and Alba decided to defer a portion of their salaries to assist Barcelona in navigating the financial challenges. Nevertheless, the club remains obligated to honour the agreements made with the trio following their departures.

The payments in question are not classified as part of Barcelona's present expenditures since they were already factored into the club's financial report for 2020/21, during which Barcelona incurred losses amounting to €481 million, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.

The remaining payments, which are scheduled to be finalized by the conclusion of the 2024/25 season, will help alleviate some of the financial strain on the club's balance sheet.

Messi set to return to Camp Nou

Meanwhile, the board is planning to discuss arrangements with Messi regarding the club's upcoming 125th-anniversary celebrations. Ideally, we would love to have Messi attend the special gala that Barça is organizing.

If Messi's busy schedule prevents him from travelling to Catalonia, we may explore the option of having him record a video greeting for the club and the fans. Subsequently, the next point of discussion between the parties will likely revolve around the payment of their fees.

Messi's potential visit to the club in 2025, following the reopening of Spotify Camp Nou, could be a great opportunity for both him and the culé fans to reconnect. The pandemic not only impacted the salary issue but also deprived the fans of enjoying moments with their greatest idol during his last year and a half at Barça.

The last time Lionel graced the Camp Nou stands was in February 2020, just before his confinement due to COVID-19. Despite his departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2022, there is still room for reconciliation and addressing any remaining issues between the '10' and FC Barcelona.