Barcelona are really struggling to cut their salary bill to register their new signings and Lionel Messi, claims ESPN.
Messi is technically a free agent after his contract expired last month but he has agreed terms on a new five-year deal with a significant wage cut.
Barcelona have been plunged into financial turmoil since the pandemic and must quickly reduce costs, with La Liga president Javier Tebas adamant rules will not be relaxed to help them.
The Spanish giants were hoping to offload some of their deadwood this summer but have so far failed to find buyers for big earners Antoine Griezmann, Samuel Umtiti and Philippe Coutinho.
Sergi Roberto, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have also resisted Barcelona's plea to take salary cuts like Messi, leaving the club in a dire position.
Barcelona wanted to have their new signings and Messi registered before their opening league game on August 15 but are running out of time to do that.
Ronald Koeman's side have agreed free transfer deals with Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia and Sergio Aguero but none are currently eligible to play.
Barcelona have until the end of the summer transfer window to get them registered otherwise they won't be able to play until January at the earliest.
Messi has registered double figures for both goals and assists in 10 of the last 12 league campaigns.
