€100m scandal throws Barcelona transfer plans into chaos: Messi homecoming SHATTERED

Barcelona’s transfer plans will have to be ripped up and started again following a ruling from LaLiga that will have catastrophic consequences at Camp Nou amid claims that Dani Olmo and Pau Victor’s registration was made under false pretences.

Barca had been confident that they would meet with LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) requirements, which would mean that any money they received as transfer income they could then use to buy new players.

However, the Spanish top-flight’s governing body has ruled that a €100 million deal for VIP seals, which was critical for registering Olmo and Pau Vitor in January, is not accounted for in the latest financial submissions of the club.

A nine-point statement has been released by LaLiga, criticising the club and the auditor responsible for the Blaugrana’s accounts.

Consequently, Barcelona are still exceeding the limits of FFP and face a significant black hole. Furthermore, LaLiga claims Barca re-signed Pau Vitor and Dani Olmo under false pretences, opening the door to potential further punishment.

Barcelona had been plotting a blockbuster transfer spend in the hope of keeping pace with rivals Real Madrid.

A number of ambitious targets had been rumoured to be of interest to Barcelona ahead of the summer, including Lionel Messi and Neymar, yet it appears that these will have to be put on the backburner for the moment.

The Camp Nou side are no strangers to financial problems and have juggled these issues impressively in recent seasons. They have picked up smartly on the free agent market and are set to do so again via Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen.

Barcelona’s Messi dream over?

Barca had been associated with a potential homecoming for Messi, with reports in February indicating that they were planning to bring the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner back to the club for the opening of the renovated Camp Nou.

Messi, who now plays with Inter Miami, had departed in tears when his previous stint was brutally cut short as it was revealed Barcelona could not afford to renew his contract.

Now the Argentine’s potential comeback at the age of 37 has been similarly jeopardised by this latest financial setback for the Blaugrana, whose whole transfer policy for the summer now appears to need a shock rethink just weeks before the market opens.