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Barcelona should have released Lionel Messi this summer to ease their financial woes, the club’s acting president Carles Tusquets has said.
The Argentine star announced in August his desire to leave Barça, his team since 2001, but was forced to take a 180-degree turn when the Catalan giants demanded his 700 million euro buyout clause instead of negotiating his departure.
Messi will become a free agent this summer and clubs will be able to get closer to him from January.
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Asked whether Messi would have been released in the summer if the club’s management committee, which he chairs, had been in charge, Tusquets told Catalan radio RAC1: “Speaking from an economic point of view, yes. But that’s something that I would have had to. They have been in complete agreement with the coaching staff. From an economic point of view, it would have been desirable to sell Messi. “
Tusquets added that Messi’s release, including the transfer fee and money saved on salaries, would have helped as “La Liga demands salary limits.”
Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned as president of Barcelona on October 27 and the presidential elections are set for January 24. Tusquets, for his part, spoke of the possibility of Neymar returning to the club.
Neymar he told ESPN Argentina on Wednesday of his desire to play alongside Messi next season.
“If he comes as a free agent, we could consider him,” Tusquets said. “If not, there is no money [for a transfer] Unless there is a new president with a miracle in hand. If we sell [players] and the coaching staff agrees, so why not? “
Tusquets said the coronavirus pandemic has intensified the “worrying” financial situation at Barça.
“It’s terrible, but there is hope. Once the stadium reopens, everything will change,” Tusquets said.
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