To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Spanish TV's Live Countdown To Lionel Messi's Barcelona Contract Expiring Is Pure Box Office Entertainment

Spanish TV's Live Countdown To Lionel Messi's Barcelona Contract Expiring Is Pure Box Office Entertainment

These guys know how to produce quality television.

Daniel Marland

Daniel Marland

Spanish television channel El Chiringuito hosted a live countdown to Lionel Messi's Barcelona contract ending and it's essential viewing.

Messi is officially a free agent after seeing his Blaugrana contract expire at 12am this morning.

He's expected to sign a new deal in the coming days and not much has changed all in all - but don't tell the guys at El Chiringuito.

Wednesday evening saw host Josep Pedrerol sit in front of a live timer and count the seconds until Messi was free.


The music, the camera angles, the timer, the zoom in. Just pure entertainment from start to finish.

Messi is currently away with Argentina at the Copa America and he's hoping to win a first major international tournament of his career.

El Chiringuito hit the headlines earlier this year for their viral reaction to Real Madrid's Eden Hazard joking around with Chelsea players.

Fans have reacted to the insane coverage once again and they're hoping it never ends.







The 34-year-old is still set to extend his stay at the Camp Nou unless a dramatic turnaround occurs.

La Liga president Javier Tebas believes the Catalan giants need to restructure their wage bill before Messi officially re-signs.

Tebas said: "We have a special procedure for when a club goes over its salary established by La Liga, where clubs can only include players who represent 25% of the savings.

"If Barca sell a player for €100 million, they can only spend €25 million. If Barca receives €10 million on a sale, they can only spend €2.5 million on a new signing.

Image
PA

"If Barcelona want to bring in a player who costs them €25 million per season in salary, they must earn, either by transfer or by a salary reduction, €100 million."

Barcelona have been limited to free transfers so far in this transfer window.

Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia both arrived from Manchester City, while Memphis Depay swapped Ligue 1 side Lyon for La Liga

Featured Image Credit: PA Images & El Chiringuito/Twitter

Topics: Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi