After failing to sign Messi, Barcelona is willing to pay $40 million for this star in 2024

Lionel Messi's announcement about his decision to play for Inter Miami surprised everyone, especially Barcelona. President Joan Laporta and coach Xavi Hernandez had publicly expressed their desire to have the Argentina National Team star, who is the player with the most appearances and goals in club’s history.

Despite being the last champions of the Spanish league, Barcelona know they need top-level players to be able to compete with Manchester City and Real Madrid in the next Champions League. Especially considering the Blaugranas have not won that trophy since 2015.

With that goal in mind, they have already started negotiations to raise the level of the team. The signing of Ilkay Gundogan could be followed, in 2024, by another world star: Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian forward who has been shining for years at Liverpool, managed by Jurgen Klopp.

Barcelona's plan to persuade Salah

The player's contract with Liverpool runs out on June 30, 2025. Joan Laporta's idea is to wait until next summer, when the Egyptian will have only one year left on his contract, to offer the English side $40 million to sign Salah for three seasons.