La Liga president says Busquets exit is the ‘start of Messi’s arrival’: “Still many meters”

Javier Tebas made a recent media appearance, talking to El Partidazo de COPE about several things, including Barcelona’s finances, Sergio Busquets’ exit from Barça and the UEFA Champions League.

Tebas insinuated that Busquets’ departure could pave the way for Lionel Messi, but admitted the road ahead could be tricky for Barça as they look to bring back the Argentine.

“The start of Busquets is the beginning of the road for Messi to return but to reach the end they still have to walk many meters,” Tebas said.

Barcelona’s pursuit of Messi indeed hinges on the club’s financials. Although the exit of Busquets could help them significantly lower the club’s salary expenses, they must still free up a lot of space, in order to make enough economic provision.

Barcelona had sent their Financial Feasibility Plan to La Liga last month, but the Spanish football league is yet to approve the plan. When asked about it, Tebas said it is not under his control.

“I do not give the ok to the feasibility plans, it is the economic control. I know that they are talking, explaining things, because it is a club with a budget of more than eight hundred million euros and very high expenses,” he said.

Finally, Tebas admitted he is supporting Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. But he expressed his dislike towards Florentino Perez, in a slightly witty manner.

“Of course, I’m going with Real Madrid against Man City. I am very Madridista but not very ‘Florentinista’,” he said.

There is no secret that Tebas does not share a good relationship with Real Madrid boss Perez and Barcelona boss Joan Laporta, due to their support for the European Super League, although the latter is trying to douse the tension with the La Liga president.