Barcelona have been paying Lionel Messi ever since he left the club and will do until 2025

Barcelona are still paying Lionel Messi despite the Argentine leaving the club back in 2021.

Two years ago, Messi was in floods of tears as he announced his decision to leave Barcelona for Paris Saint Germain.

It was widely reported at the time that Messi was forced to leave the Camp Nou due to the club’s worsening financial problems.

Despite not playing for the club for more than two years, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed that Messi is still being paid by the Catalan giants.

He told La Vanguardia: “What is owed to him is the deferral of the salary bill that was agreed with the previous board and that produces pending payments that end in 2025.

“He is paid religiously.”

This summer, there were rumours that Messi could head back to Barcelona upon the expiration of his PSG contract.

However, the club have since claimed that Messi wanted to step away from the spotlight, therefore signing for MLS club Inter Miami.

Laporta added: “We had an agreement with La Liga that we would dedicate part of the resources we have to Messi. It was contemplated within the feasibility plan.

“We communicated it to Jorge Messi. He told me that Leo had spent a very difficult year in Paris and that he wanted less pressure. With our option, he would have continued to have pressure and I understood his decision.”

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He continued: “Let him do very well [in Miami] and we will begin to prepare his super tribute. Within the framework of the 125th anniversary and when we return to the Camp Nou it would be perfect.”

After confirming his move to Inter Miami, Messi spoke about why he decided not to return to Barcelona.

He told SPORT and Mundo Deportivo: “I heard that Barcelona had to sell players or lower player salaries and the truth is that I didn't want to go through that.

“Although I heard that it was said that La Liga had accepted everything and that everything was fine for me to return, there were still many other things that had to happen.

“I really wanted to return, I was very excited to be able to return, but, on the other hand, after having experienced what I experienced when I left, I didn't want to be in the same situation again. I didn't want to leave my future in someone else's hands.”