La Liga club, Barcelona are still paying Argentine legend, Lionel Messi more than two years after he left the club and will continue doing so until at least 2025. Messi famously left Barca in tears in 2021 after the Catalans failed to offer him a new contract that would successfully allow them to navigate Financial Fair Play Limits. 
Lionel Messi crying after exiting Barcelona in 2021. Source: Getty His deal which expired on June 30 of that year, is believed to be the highest-paid sports contract of all time. El Mundo reported that Messi reportedly agreed to receive €555,237,619 (US$604.2 million) over four seasons if he met a series of conditions. Despite not playing for the club for two years, Lionel Messi is still getting paid by Barcelona and is owed money right up until 2025. Speaking to La Vanguardia, Barcelona President Joan Laporta said; “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.” Barcelona had previously claimed that Messi’s decision to reject a return to the club in favour of a move to Inter Miami stemmed from a desire to step away from the spotlight, but Laporta doubled down on that claim.
Lionel Messi playing for Argentina. Source: Getty He said; “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. “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.” With his PSG contract now officially expired (as of June 30), Messi is an Inter Miami player and the Leagues Cup home game against Cruz Azul on July 21 could be his first outing for his new club. He signed a wo-and-a-half year contract said to be worth between $125m-$150m (£100m-£120m) with Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez on international duty for Argentina. Source: Getty A seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and, since December, a World Cup winner with Argentina, Messi was the most valuable player on the free transfer market this summer, with Al-Hilal also willing to offer him €400 million a year to move to Saudi Arabia. He however turned down Al-Hilal and Barcelona to join MLS club, Inter Miami which is co-owned by England legend, David Beckham. Speaking to ESPN, Tevez said Messi did not join Barcelona because he doesn’t want to be seen as the “bad guy”. He noted that financial issues at the Spanish club would have required others to take a pay cut or move on for an agreement with Messi to be reached. He said; “It seems to me that Leo took the decision knowing and understanding his own situation. He didn’t want to go back to Barcelona and have his team-mates lower their salaries and be the bad guy again. It hurt him more than anyone not being able to return to Barcelona, which is his home. 
Lionel Messi at a Barcelona FC press conference. Source: Getty “I think it was all very lukewarm on Barcelona’s part. Leo opted for the league in the United States. He likes Miami, it’s a tranquillity for him and his family. I think what he did was the right thing to do. If it wasn’t Barcelona, where he knew he was going to be the centre of attraction again, it was nothing in Europe. The decision was very well made.” Messi has agreed an initial two-and-a-half-year deal with Inter Miami and is expected to link up with the David Beckham co-owned franchise in early July, as he is currently on international duty with Argentina ahead of their friendly dates with Australia and Indonesia. Barca have been told by La Liga to reduce their debt by €200m this summer if they want to defend their title next term, and Messi’s acquisition would have reportedly required the entire staff; from players to dinner ladies agreeing to a salary reduction. 
Messi during a training session at PSG. Source: Getty Inter Miami has a long-standing interest in bringing Messi to the United States and making him a face for the sport ahead of the World Cup in three years’ time. They are bottom of the Eastern Conference and have just sacked Phil Neville as manager. Javier Morales is their interim head coach. The Athletic reported that the Argentine legend’s decision to join Inter Miami was partly influenced by commercial partners Apple and adidas. It was reported that the World Cup winner will get a share of the revenue from Apple TV+’s MLS Season Pass, while Adidas has offered him a profit-sharing agreement to strengthen their long-term relationship. 🚨🚨 BREAKING: Lionel Messi to Inter Miami, here we go! The decision has been made and it will be announced by Leo in the next hours #InterMiami 🇺🇸 Messi will play in MLS. No more chances for Barcelona/Al Hilal despite trying to make it happen. 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄 𝐆𝐎#Messi #MLS pic.twitter.com/OTYWIlEzNc — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 7, 2023 Messi, whose contract with Paris Saint-Germain officially expires at the end of June, could debut for Miami in either July or August and would have the unenviable task of lifting a last-place, frequently dysfunctional franchise to the playoffs. Messi, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, has scored 32 goals in 75 appearances in all competitions for French giants PSG, winning back-to-back Ligue 1 titles, following his transfer from boyhood club Barcelona in 2021. 
Barcelona players celebrating a goal. Source: Getty Barcelona missed a glorious chance to make it 1-1 after 13 minutes when Irene Paredes popped up at the back post to fire a free header wide of the target. The Spanish side continued to push forward and had Wolfsburg’s defence on the back foot for large periods in the first half. But Wolfsburg made it 2-0 eight minutes before halftime. Goalscorer Pajor turned provider for the second when she whipped in a sensational ball into the box and Alexandra Popp was on hand to fire her header past Panos to put Wolfsburg in dreamland. Barcelona came out of the blocks quickly in the second half and pulled a goal back after just three minutes. Caroline Graham Hansen got past her marker brilliantly before laying the ball off to Patricia Guijarro who rifled her effort beyond Merle Frohms. 
Alexia Putellas lifts the trophy in front of Barcelona fans in Eindhoven. Source: Getty Nigeria’s Super Falcon star, Asisat Oshoala was unable to feature for Barcelona in the final after suffering a hamstring injury. The 28-year-old Nigerian has been in fine form this season, scoring 26 times in all competitions, including five in the Champions League. Barca confirmed the news ahead of the game, with the striker injuring her left thigh. 
Asisat Oshoala during a match for Barcelona. Source: Getty The Champions League final concludes the season for both clubs, with many of the stars on show in this game now turning their attention to the 2023 Women’s World Cup. The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is less than 50 days out. Several players across both finalists will represent their national teams when the group stages kick off. The World Cup will begin on July 20 when co-hosts New Zealand face Norway and Australia welcome Ireland. 
Rema pays visit to FC Barcelona, receives warm welcome from players. Photo Credit: @heisrema Source: Twitter Expressing his enthusiasm, Rema shared photos on social media capturing moments with the Barca players. In one of the images, the Nigerian artist is seen posing alongside Ousmane Dembele and Ansu Fati, showcasing their camaraderie and shared passion for their respective crafts. To commemorate his visit, FC Barcelona presented Rema with a customized team jersey. The special jersey bore his name on the back, although it was noted that it did not feature a specific number. Taking to his Twitter account, Rema captioned the post, saying, “Pulled up to see my brothers in training 👊🏾⚽️ @FCBarcelona_es.” His words conveyed his excitement and appreciation for the warm welcome he received from the club. As news of Rema’s visit continues to circulate, fans and followers eagerly await further updates from the singer and anticipate the positive impact of such collaborations between the music and sports worlds. See below; Pulled up to see my brothers in training 👊🏾⚽️ @FCBarcelona_es pic.twitter.com/oatRs7OPVl — REMA (@heisrema) June 1, 2023 In other news, exceptionally talented football star, Cristiano Ronaldo has made Nigerians gasp in surprise as he plays the hit song of popular Afrobeats singer, Rema. The Portuguese player who recently moved to a Saudi club, Al-Nassr, decided to relax over a good Nigerian song. He shared a video of his kids dancing and shaking their body to the beats of Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ on his Insta story 
Xavi Hernandez has accused Manchester City of blocking Joao Cancelo from joining Barcelona which he manages, despite an agreement being reached. Cancelo moved to Bayern Munich on loan in January and has made 15 appearances in the German top-flight league for the Bavarian giants. 
Xavi Hernandez presiding over Barcelona match. Source: Getty In an interview with TV3, Xavi revealed that Joao Cancelo was offered to Barcelona, but the deal was struck out by Manchester City after an agreement was reached. The Barcelona manager said; “We wanted Cancelo. They offered him to us and we gave the OK. In the end, they tell us that Manchester City does not want him to come to Barça. That is true.” 
Cancelo posing with the Bundesliga trophy. Source: Getty At the moment, Bayern Munich are unlikely to activate the €70 million (£62m/$78m) purchase option in Cancelo’s contract, meaning he’s facing an uncertain future. It is also unclear if Barcelona will make a move for him again. 
Barcelona has been linked with a move for German midfielder, Joshua Kimmich, who wants to leave Bayern Munich this summer. Mundo Deportivo reported that the Spanish giants are planning reinforcements for their first team squad, which on Sunday, May 14, sealed its maiden La Liga title in four years through a 4-2 away win against rivals Espanyol. 
Kimmich is not only one of the world’s best midfielders, but he can also play at the right back where Barcelona coach, Xavi Hernandez badly needs cover. Central defender Jules Kounde has been filling in there this season but is expected to occupy his usual area of the pitch soon and especially if Andreas Christensen is moved on. Mundo Deportivo complimented Kimmich for being “very reliable” because of his technical and physical qualities as a “very tactically intelligent footballer”.