Barcelona striker Lionel Messi is willing to accept a pay cut. In order for Barcelona to have extra money to arrange the transfer of Borussia Dortmund forward Erling Haaland, the 33-year-old has agreed to sign a new contract with a reduced wage, according to Eurosport.
Messi agreed to a diminution when Barca president Joan Laporta asked the Argentine to give up his current salary so that the club could find funds for the Haaland deal as the club was ready to start transfer talks for the 20-year-old Norwegian. Barcelona will have to find additional funds to make Haaland’s transfer possible in spite of such a move from the team captain. Laporta is currently in talks with an investment fund.
Barcelona is assured that the club will succeed in signing Haaland. In the center-forward position, Memphis Depay from Lyon was a priority option for head coach Ronald Koeman, but Laporta only wants to sign the Borussia Dortmund forward.
Signing Messi is no longer PSG’s priority
PSG had offered Messi a contract, but the player wants to stay at Barca as long as the team is capable of achieving high tournament goals. Signing Barcelona striker Lionel Messi is no longer a priority for PSG. Now the chief objective of the French club is to negotiate an extension with forward Kylian Mbappe.
The 22-year-old’s present contract is set to run until the summer of 2022. Although the club is still in contact with the player’s entourage, inviting Messi is no longer a preference for PSG. As per Diario Sport quoting L’Équipe, Manchester City are also no longer interested in inviting the 33-year-old forward.
In the current La Liga season, the Barça captain has played 31 games scoring 26 goals and providing 9 assists.
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