On June 30, FC Barcelona will put an end to one of its most symbolic debts: the outstanding payments to Lionel Messi. The Argentine star, currently playing for Inter Miami, will receive 7 million dollars corresponding to the last part of his salary deferred during the pandemic, when he accepted a restructuring of his contract to help the club in the middle of the financial crisis, according to the portal Culemanía.

Not only Messi: outstanding payments to several historical figures

Messi is not an isolated case. Other emblematic former players of the club will also receive this Sunday the last payment of the salaries they decided to defer. Sergio Busquets will be paid $1.3 million, while Jordi Alba will receive $1.1 million.

In addition, some players of the current squad are also contemplated in this last round of payments. Ronald Araújo, Pedri, Ansu Fati and Iñaki Peña will see their contractual situations regularized, although in their cases the figures are significantly lower. For example, Pedri had a sum of US$ 887 thousand pending, which was divided into eight payments, while Araújo had US$ 502 thousand deferred.

On the other hand, players such as Marc-André ter Stegen and Frenkie de Jong opted not to defer their salaries, but did agree to a renewal with restructured payments to help improve the club's financial situation.

Beyond the current squad: former players also get theirs

Barça will also settle debts with other former players this June 30. Samuel Umtiti (1.4 million), Antoine Griezmann (1.1 million), Philippe Coutinho (1 million), Ousmane Dembélé (754 thousand dollars) and Sergi Roberto (700 thousand dollars) are part of the list of players who will see the payment of their deferred salaries completed.

In total, the club will pay close to $19 million in this financial closing. To this figure must be added the imminent payment of almost $72 million for Nico Williams' termination clause, which would bring the total disbursement to almost $94 million.

A new era for Barça?

This move represents a significant step in the financial recovery of FC Barcelona, which for years suffered the consequences of a complicated economic management. Paying off these debts not only represents a relief in its accounts, but may also mark the beginning of a new era for the Catalan club.

With the economy more stable and the sporting future under reconstruction, some are already wondering: could this gesture open the door to a possible return of Messi to Camp Nou? Although for now it is only an illusion, in the culé environment the dream remains more alive than ever.