Barcelona have not ruled out signing a replacement for Lionel Messi despite their financial constraints.
Messi will not return for the 2021-22 season, Barca announced on Thursday, with a new deal unable to fit within LaLiga s salary restrictions.
President Joan Laporta, explaining the collapsed negotiations on Friday, confirmed new recruits Sergio Aguero, Eric Garcia, Emerson Royal and Memphis Depay could be registered, though.
And despite a desperate financial situation, which Laporta said was a lot worse than exposed initially , there could yet be a further arrival to help plug the gap left by Barca s greatest ever player.
No, the first team squad isn t done, isn t closed, the president said. The market closes on August 31, so lots of things could happen.
Barca already appear well stocked in attacking areas, with Aguero and Depay boosting a forward line that includes Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho.
— Memphis Depay (@Memphis)
Martin Braithwaite and Rey Manaj – the Barcelona B striker – have both played and scored for the Blaugrana in pre-season.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland was also linked early in the transfer window, although the Bundesliga outfit are highly unlikely to accommodate a sale Barca could afford.
