Barcelona reportedly will cut the salaries of players and club officials due to financial problems. In fact, there is one rumor that I think is quite surprising. The reason is, after success to keep Messi in Barcelona, the financial situation problem due to Corona made Barcelona have to carry out alternative solutions including giving freedom for players to release their contracts. If, Messi wishes of course he can do that, and then he can join City on a free transfer.
Apart from the players, I also heard that staff salaries will be cut. I think this has to save the club's finances. I think the income from selling the jersey is not enough, they need an audience to buy match tickets. For messi, I think this can happen. But will City still benefit in the long term, is he getting old?
I think the staff salaries will be cut is just a rumor, it's true that Barcelona is experiencing financial problems, but there is another way to go.
Of course income from selling jersey will not be enough to solve financial problems in Barcelona. I agree Barcelona need income from ticket
sales, but the number of spectators present must be limited and enforce the COVID19 protocol. In order to prevent the spread of the corona
virus, it is best for Barcelona to release some of its players, including Messi, so it can reduce the burden of paying salaries. It's true that it's
not profitable for Manchester City to actually sign Messi, because he is 33 years old, which has passed its best year.