Barcelona presidential candidate Marc Ciria views club legend Lionel Messi as a surefire way to boost revenue, whether the Argentine comes back to Catalonia as a player or simply as a “strategic partner.”
Financial struggles have burdened the 28-time La Liga champions in recent years, making it near-impossible to afford blockbuster transfers or pay off outstanding debt. Barcelona can barely register new signings to keep in accordance with the league’s 1:1 spending rule without having to go through the Spanish judicial system.
