Joan Laporta reveals Barcelona are paying Lionel Messi 'religiously' until 2025 over outstanding wages

The Argentine forward left the club two seasons ago

Joan Laporta has revealed in an interview that Barcelona are still paying the outstanding wage bill of club legend Lionel Messi and will continue to do so until 2025.

The Argentine left Barcelona in 2021 after the club failed to offer him a new contract. According to details leaked by El Mundo, Messi's deal is believed to be the highest-paid sports contract of all time.

After Messi's move to PSG, SPORT revealed that the LaLiga side still owed €52 million to the player and intended to fully pay him by 2022.

La Vanguardia, a Spanish newspaper held an interview with Barcelona's president, Juan Laporta. They directly questioned him whether the team owns Leo Messi any money. He explained that what is owed are deferred wages agreed with the board of his predecessor Josep Bartomeu, which "produces pending payments that end in 2025".

“What is owed to him is the deferral of the wage bill that was agreed with the previous board and that produces outstanding payments that end in 2025. He is paid religiously.” Laporta added.

Laporta also said that the wage bill won't impact the club's financial record with the financial fair play regulation. “It corresponds to the wage bill, but it is interpretable,” the Barcelona president said.

“Now, with the improvement of relations with La Liga, the indemnities of the sections will not impact financial fair play, and this is good news.”

Lionel Messi has decided to join MLS club Inter Miami. The forward will play alongside former teammate Sergio Busquets. His salary with the MLS side was revealed earlier by their president. The Argentine will get paid between $50 million to $60 million per year.