Not known to be one particularly helpful in any event, La Liga boss Javier Tebas has made his “No way, Josė” stance on the Catalan’s attempts to keep hold of Lionel Messi crystal clear.
“I hope they do manage to keep Messi,” he was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
“But we won’t change the rules. We can’t have a regulation specifically for Barcelona or Messi.
“They are trying to reduce their total salary volume. Real Madrid have put in a lot of effort so their losses are a long way off Barcelona’s. To have Messi, Barcelona will have to reduce the salary of other players or to try and sell players.”
Financial Fair Play and its encumbrances is certainly the biggest stumbling block to Barca being able to keep hold of their best-ever player.
It has been often repeated in the media that the Argentinian has been convinced by president Joan Laporta of his intention to build a winning project that the club talisman could believe in as that, more than the financial aspects of any new contract, is believed to be Messi’s primary motivation.
Given how much debt Barca find themselves in, however, with the figure reportedly at 1.2bn Euros or £1.03bn, players will have to be sold and salaries reduced in order that Messi’s own reduced wages can be afforded.
There is at least a willingness from both parties, which is more than can be said for Javier Tebas.