Can't help but lose some respect for Laporta if the reports are true; us having to cut player salaries for Messi's new deal whilst being in a pandemic and the club in financial ruin. Sure we should be cutting wages but not to fund another ridiculous wage for 1 player. The greed from Leo is unreal yet we are supposed to believe he plays for Barca out of pure love
Imagine throwing away any chance for progress in the next 2 years for a 34 year old that wanted to leave last year anyways.
We have to cut salaries either way. Messi leaving or not obviously makes a difference, but the talked about 40ME/year is okay. The whole package (200ME) is a bit mad, and definitely something to talk about, but short term he's helping us a lot with a deal like that.
For the next two years having Messi for 40ME per season should be more than worth it from a financial point of view. And in two years we have hopefully recovered enough for 40ME/year to not make a massive difference.
I would be fine not going into the season with Messi though. Offensively we are set with or without him.