Transfer: La Liga president reveals only club that can afford Messi

La Liga president, Javier Tebas, has poured cold water on Lionel Messi’s possible return to Barcelona, claiming that only Paris Saint-Germain can afford his wage demands.

Barca coach, Xavi Hernandez, recently said he was welcome to the possibility of coaching Messi.

But Tebas has queried the motives of the Argentina captain and the possibility of PSG letting him leave.

“I don’t know what [Messi] wants. First of all, if he wants to leave PSG; secondly, if PSG will let him leave; and, thirdly, it then depends on what he earns, right?

“If all these three things fall into place and it’s an affordable amount for Barcelona, inside [LaLiga’s] financial regulations, he will sign.

“But it depends on what he earns. If it’s what he earned when he left [in 2021], then no. With the amount Messi earns [at the moment], only PSG can afford him,” Tebas said at a ceremony for the Spanish Ejecutivos magazine.

Messi left Camp Nou in 2021 as Barcelona struggled to adhere to La Liga’s strict financial laws.

However, the 35-year-old is being linked with a move away from France, after 23 goals and 28 assists.