Barcelona set to clear major financial burden as they make decision on paying deferred salary to Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba: Reports

Barcelona are reportedly set to clear a major financial burden by the end of the 2024/25 season by paying off their deferred salaries to former players. According to the Spanish publication Sport, the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba's salary payments were deferred from the COVID-19 year (via GOAL).

After the pandemic season, Messi decided to move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021. He then spent two years with the Parisians before completing a free transfer to MLS side Inter Miami.

Meanwhile, Alba put an end to his Blaugrana career after the end of the 2022/23 season to reunite with Messi and join Inter Miami. Lastly, Busquets, who is also with the Herons, arrived in the MLS in the same transfer window as Alba.

The latest news from Mundo Deportivo says that the Catalan club will clear all these dues by the end of the current season. However, it is believed that the same would not reflect on the account this year because it is being shown in the books for the 2020/21 campaign.

This must be good news for Barcelona, who have also enjoyed a fairly good start to the current season. Even with multiple injury issues in the midfield area, new manager Hansi Flick as managed to put his team top of the La Liga standings. They're currently three points clear of arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Currently, we are waiting for the restart of club matches, with the international break ongoing. Barcelona will play Seville on October 20 in their next league match.

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Hansi Flick worries over return of Barcelona midfielder - Reports

Hansi Flick

Barcelona midfielder Gavi is reportedly set to make a comeback from injury after the current international break. The Spain international has been missing since November last year after picking up an ACL injury.

However, reports suggest that the central midfielder could see some minutes against Seville. That being said, Diaro AS claims that Hansi Flick is still unsure about using Gavi in this match, which may then delay his return (via Barca Blaugranes).

While it is expected that he could feature against Seville, the report clarifies that Barcelona do not wish to use him in the two games after that. First, they face Bayern Munich in the Champions League on October 23 before travelling to the Santiago Bernabeu to play Real Madrid in the league (October 26).

To date, Gavi has made 111 appearances across competitions for his current team, bagging seven goals and 14 assists.