'I would've sold Lionel Messi,' says Barcelona interim president

Carlos Tusquets said selling Argentine last summer 'made sense' financially

Barcelona's Lionel Messi - wearing a Newell's Old Boys jersey in memory of late Argentinian legend Diego Maradona - celebrates after scoring during their 4-0 against Osasuna at Camp Nou on October 29. EPA

Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates after scoring their sides fourth goal while wearing a Newell's Old Boys shirt with the No 10 on the back in memory of Diego Maradona. Getty

Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their fourth goal. Reuters

Barcelona's Lionel Messi shoots during the match against Osasuna at the Camp Nou. AFP

Barcelona's midfielder Philippe Coutinho celebrates his goal with teammates at the Camp Nou. AFP

Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho celebrates scoring their third goal with Antoine Griezmann. Reuters

Barcelona's Lionel Messi battles with Osasuna's Raul Navas. Reuters

Barcelona's midfielder Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring his team's second goal. AFP

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann after scoring against Osasuna. AFP

Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen makes a save. Reuters

Martin Braithwaite of Barcelona scores his sides first goal past Sergio Herrera. Getty

Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho scores on Sunday. Reuters

Barcelona's interim president has said the Catalans should have cashed-in on Lionel Messi during the summer transfer window, saying the savings the club would have made on the player's wages would have been "desirable".

Messi shocked the football world by giving legal notice of his intent to leave Barcelona at the end of last season and was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City and a reunion with his former Barca boss Pep Guardiola.

The Argentine, 33, said the decision was due to the direction the now former board had taken the club and its erratic transfer policy.

Ex-Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned in October rather than face a vote of no confidence, with Carlos Tusquets taking temporary charge until January's elections.

With La Liga last month slashing clubs' spending limits by €610 million ($724.25m) for the 2020/2021 season due to the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Barcelona's salary cap has been cut to €382.7m from €671m, nearly €288m.

Tusquets told RAC1 radio station that, from a financial standpoint, he would have made the case for selling Messi, had he been in charge, but added that the decision would have ultimately have rested with head coach Ronald Koeman.

"Economically speaking, I would've sold Messi in the summer window," Tusquets said.

"Both in terms of what you save on the wage bill as well as the money you make, it would've been desirable. But this is something the coaching staff have to consent to and that's not my place.

"La Liga are setting salary limits at the moment and this would've helped on that front."

Tusquets comments are likely to be jumped on as a sign of further decline in the relationship between club and player.

Messi's current contract expires in June, when he is expected to leave for free and on Wednesday former Barca teammate Neymar spoke of his desire to link up with the Argentine again.

"What I want most of all is to play with Messi again, to be able to enjoy him once again on the pitch," he said after his club Paris Saint-Germain's 3-1 Champions League win against Manchester United.

"I want to play with him next year, for sure. We have to do it next season."

Tusquets conceded that scenario is unlikely to be played out at Camp Nou, where a combination of Barca's finances and the Brazilian being investigated by the Spanish authorities over unpaid taxes of €10.2 million from his previous four-year spell at the club from 2013 ongoing.

the purse strings have been tightened following the COVID-19 crisis.

"If he [Neymar] became available on a free transfer then maybe we could think about signing him," he said.

"Without making sales, there's no money for new signings unless the new president has incredibly deep pockets."