Cash-strapped Barcelona will still have to fork out a massive £170,000 per week to Lionel Messi until 2025 if he does eventually leave in the summer, according to reports.
Messi was desperate to leave the Spanish giants for free in the summer after becoming disillusioned with proceedings on and off the pitch, but Barcelona blocked any move by insisting suitors - particularly Manchester City - would have to pay his £629million release clause.
Messi's future is now up in the air - with it still being expected that he will leave in the summer - and if that is the case, he would still earn an eye-watering £170,000 a week for the next four years from Barcelona due to a contractual agreement, according to Marca.