Emili Rousaud, who is running for the Barcelona presidential election on January 24 following the resignation of Josep Maria Bartomeu in October, addressed the future of superstar captain Lionel Messi.
Amid transfer speculation and the coronavirus pandemic, Rousaud addressed the future of Messi.
And, according to the presidential candidate, Messi would leave Barcelona if he does not consider a pay cut.
“We’ll ask him to make the sacrifice. If there’s no agreement, then Messi will leave,” Rousaud told ARA.
“We’ll have to sit down with Messi and ask him to make a salary cut,” he said. “Right now, with things as they are, it’s unsustainable.”
Rousaud added: “Messi has written the most brilliant pages in the club’s history. We have to honour our legends, but the reality is what it is.
“I believe that things have to be said as they are. We can’t fool our members. We’ll make every effort to ensure he stays, but always with the interests of the club first.”
