Via First Sportz:
In a final attempt to prevent Lionel Messi from joining Paris Saint Germain this summer, Barca club lawyers have filed an official complaint against Paris.
FC Barcelona lawyers claim Paris’ finances are worse than theirs
Paris have had a huge summer transfer window so far, where they have signed heavyweight players like Gianluigi Donnarumma, Wijnaldum and Sergio Ramos. Although all of them have joined on a free transfer, they however bring with them huge wages which is the major source of dispute according to these Barcelona lawyers.
The lawyers led by Barcelona official Dr Juan Branco, claimed that PSG’s salary-to-income ratio was 99%, while Barcelona’s was 54%. This if true is not in compliance with the Financial Fair Play rules which the clubs have to maintain across Europe.
The letter written by Dr Juan Branco and his team of officials said, “On behalf of FC Barcelona partners, my firm has prepared a complaint with the European Commission and demands for provisional suspension before civil and administrative courts in France to prevent Paris-Saint Germain from signing Lionel Messi.
“PSG’s ratios in terms of ‘Financial Fair Play’ are worse than those of Barcelona. It is inconceivable that the ‘Financial Fair Play’ serves to aggravate the drifts of football-business, the instrumentalization of football by sovereign powers, and the distortion of competitions.”
Lionel Messi’s future might not be as clear as it seems to be. A complaint has been filed with the European Commission in an attempt to prevent Paris Saint-Germain from signing the Argentine.
The complaint, which MARCA have gained exclusive access to, is based on financial facts, and claims that Financial Fair Play should rule PSG out of the running for Messi’s signature.
“PSG’s ratio with regards to Financial Fair Play is worse than Barcelona’s,” the statement sent to the Court of Appeals by Dr. Juan Branco on behalf of Barcelona’s members.
“In 2019/20, 99 percent of PSG’s income was used for salaries, whereas it was 54 percent for Barcelona.”
Those behind the complaint, which has been sent and is now pending, hope to block Messi’s move to PSG, claiming that competition has been distorted by the French club’s spending.
It states that Joan Laporta’s reason for not being able to renew Messi’s contract was that, even with the player taking a 50 salary reduction, Barcelona’s salary would have been 110 percent of the cap imposed by the European body and by LaLiga.
A race against time
The decision to block the move has to come before any contract is signed. Otherwise, it would only serve to drag things out.
PSG’s salaries
There was also a reference made to the signings PSG have already made this summer, having brought Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos, Achraf Hakimi and Georginio Wijnaldum previously. Those players join Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Marco Verratti on PSG’s books.
