Changing Room Chat: Cost-cutting is a Messi business

BARCELONA’S desire to boost revenue has the European champions charging the public to view an upcoming open training session.

Club members can invite three guests free of charge for the 5 January practice, but non-members will be charged e5 to watch Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta.

The Club World Cup winners signed a e171 million deal with Qatar Foundation, which became the first paid sponsor of the club’s jersey. The heavily indebted club is also cost cutting, eliminating its 80-year-old baseball team.