- Even if Lionel Messi leaves FC Barcelona this summer, he will still be putting a huge dent in the club's finances for years, because he's owed $48 million in unpaid bonuses.
- La Vanguardia reports Barcelona will pay Messi the sum in eight separate installments between this summer and 2025.
- Messi, who handed in a transfer request last summer, is free to talk to other clubs as of this month with his contract expiring in June.
Even if Lionel Messi leaves FC Barcelona this summer, the Argentine will still be putting a huge dent in the club's finances for years to come due to $48 million he is owed in unpaid bonuses.
Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia reports Messi's most recent contract at the Camp Nou, which he signed in 2017, included a bonus of $96 million, which was to be paid in two equal installments on top of his $74 million annual wage.
The Spanish publication says the payment of both installments has been delayed a number of times, with Messi only receiving the first in July of last year.
The second will now be paid in eight smaller installments over the space of four years after Messi's contract expires in June, meaning the club will continue to pay the 33-year-old until 2025, regardless of where he is playing.
Messi requested to leave Barcelona last summer shortly after Barcelona were thumped 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League, citing a clause in his contract that would have allowed him to walk free.
However, the Spanish club claimed said clause had expired, resulting in Messi ultimately backing down in order to avoid a huge legal battle.
Despite former president Josep Maria Bartomeu - who often clashed heads with Messi during his tenure at the club - resigning in October, Messi has not agreed a new deal and is free to talk to other clubs from this month.
Most recently Messi spoke of his "dream" to "play in the United States" one day, with Inter Miami owner David Beckham responding by saying he "will try" to make Messi's dream a reality.
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