Barcelona, who are already in a dire financial situation, are reportedly unable to register any of their new signings with LaLiga.
The cash-strapped club has already confirmed the signings of Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero, Emerson Royal and Eric Garcia, while Lionel Messi's new contract is understood to be in the process of being finalised.
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However, this may all be for nothing as the Catalan giants are reportedly 40% above their wage cap and more than €1 billion (R16.8 billion) in debt, which means they will not be allowed to register any new signings, per LaLiga rules.
It is claimed Barca must decrease their wage bill by about €200 million (R3.3 billion) before they can get all the abovementioned deals registered.
Click through the mini-gallery above to see the 5 players Barca cannot currently register for the 2021/22 season
With Messi's proposed salary in his new contract – said to be worth €138 million (R2.3 billion) a season, including fixed incomes and variables, according to El Mundo – set to stay the same, this means club president Joan Laporta is going to have to finance many more outgoings just to make the six-time Ballon d'Or winner's new deal possible.
The club has already started this process, though, having offloaded fringe players Francisco Trincao (on loan), Konrad de la Fuente, Juan Miranda, Jean-Claire Todibo and Matheus Fernandes.
However, these sales are nowhere near enough, and Laporta has reportedly pushed to have Miralem Pjanic and Samuel Umtiti's contracts terminated – both players are said to have rejected this – while more sales can be expected, including, perhaps, one or two of the club's top earners.
Scroll through the gallery below to see the 10 biggest boot deals in football, including Messi's