"The results from the audit of the finances are much worse than we had expected, based on the official numbers. That means losses are much higher than expected, and debt is much bigger too, which means that with the current contracts we have no margin."

“The agreement with Leo Messi had certain risks, and we were willing to take them on, but when we saw the situation of the club through this audit, we just had no margin after the calamitous previous board.”

"Leo deserves everything, his love for Barca has been clear, and his wish to stay at Barca and in the city. I am sad but also convinced we have done the best for FC Barcelona.”

"We are talking about the best player in the world, who also has other offers. But the moment has come when you have to leave emotion aside, analyse the numbers coolly and with rigour, and fit within the La Liga rules."

“The only way to have margin on salary scale and register Leo passed through accepting something which we see as not good at all for Barca (CVC deal). We did not want to mortgage the future of the club.”

“I don’t want to generate false hopes. It is true that the player also has other offers, we heard that during the negotiations. There is also a deadline for us, La Liga is starting soon. The FFP is also clear and player cannot stay in this (limbo) situation.”

“Messi’s will to facilitate him staying at the club was clear, and we are grateful for that. We thought the five year deal, with deferred payment, would fit within La Liga’s FFP. We wanted more flexibility, in other countries it would be accepted, but not here.”

"To be able to find 25m we need to free up 100m. We have been working fast on that, we have reached a series of agreements. But with other players it is not easy, players have already reduced salaries or restructured their deals previously. So its not easy.”

“Kun, Memphis or Emerson have accepted reduced salaries, and we are grateful to that. They are not comparable with Messi’s situation.”

“The salary limit we have used up, even without Leo we have no margin."

“We could not just end contracts (with players) which were signed by the previous board. That would bring risks, you could end up losing in court and in bigger trouble.”

“Without Messi, the salaries are at about 95% of the revenues of the club. So still lots of work to do to fit within La Liga FFP.”

“Within our calculations we can register the four new signings, inside La Liga’s salary cap. For the effort made by the players, the size of their salaries, it is not the same situation as with Leo.”

”So we still have a lot of work to do to reduce ours. Not just the salaries, also the very high amortizations, which are a huge weight on us. We are working on all that.”

“Our squad is not closed, the market continues until Aug 31. Many things can happen.”

Barcelona sells 10% of TV rights in LaLiga for the next 25 years for €207M + 60M. It manages to close the season without prejudice, but it is still not possible to register Kessie, Christiensen or even Sergi Roberto. Much less Lewa. Need more levers or player sales.