Barcelona Set To Be Handed Lionel Messi Contract Boost By La Liga Investment

Lionel Messi's contract could soon be signed, with Barcelona receiving a financial boost due to a private firm investing in La Liga.

Barcelona were warned last month that they wouldn't be able to register Messi, whose contract expired at the end of last season, or their new players without clearing their wage bill.

The club captain is still in danger of not being able to play until January, if his contract can't be signed by the end of August, although they'd want it done in time for the season to start on the 15th.

However the club have been handed a boost, thanks to La Liga agreeing investment from American private equity firm CVC.

The investors, who have already invested a chunk into the Six Nations, have agreed in principle to buy 10% of La Liga for $3.2 billion.

According to Marca, Barca are set to get 10%, or $320 million, of that money, and can use up to 15% of that towards transfers.

Messi's contract saga could soon be over. Image: PA Images

That extra boost would mean that Messi, along with Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia and Emerson Royal, would be able to be registered.

There's no doubt that Messi being able to play in the league is a positive for the new investors, who will want to see returns on their money.

According to the reports, CVC want to see La Liga get on equal footing with the Premier League, when it comes to revenues, in around four years.

It's likely that the American company, who also have investment in F1, tennis and Moto GP, wouldn't want to see a European Super League of any sort.

Aguero is also yet to be registered for Barca. Image: PA Images

Barca, along with rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, all signed up for the breakaway tournament, that would have guaranteed their place in European competition no matter how they did in the league.

It's not just Ronald Koeman's side who will be handed a boost from the new investment, with Real also in trouble financially.

Los Blancos may not splurge this summer with the new money but have been heavily linked with a move for Kylian Mbappe next summer.

The PSG forward will be out of contract but could cost Real £40 million in a signing on bonus alone.

Topics: Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Transfer gossip, La Liga

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

@Sidler28