FC Barcelona to Give Messi $100 Million USD Bonus to Sign New Four-Year Deal
Worth every penny.
On the back of losing Neymar to PSG in the summer, it seems that FC Barcelona is willing to go to extreme lengths to keep its other precocious superstar, Lionel Messi. It’s been well-documented that the Argentinian wizard, whose current contract expires at the end of this season, has yet to put pen to paper regarding a new deal. Already one of the richest players in the world, Messi looks as if he’s about to break the bank with a new bumper deal — reportedly worth $650,000 USD a week. On top of that, the Catalan Giants are willing to offer him a $100 million USD bonus just to resign.
Barcelona reportedly spends around 84 percent of its overall revenue on player wages and while Messi’s new bonus will be spread out over the coming years, the club is looking to boost revenue in order to pay for their increasing wage bill. A new sponsorship deal with Nike is in the pipes for next year, but the club is also considering selling the naming rights of its hallowed ground — the Nou Camp — in order to help raise the funds. Any deal involving the club’s historic home would mean a brand name is attached to the stadium for the next 25 years, yet it would potentially raise up to $200 million USD.
It’s a big call for the Catalan club, who’ve been at the Nou Camp since 1957, but if Messi’s mid-week hattrick for Argentina is someting to go by, it’s a move well worth making.
In other sports news, the NBA will broadcast every game in VR this season.
