Interim president Carlos Tusquets has claimed that Barcelona should have sold Lionel Messi during the previous transfer window.
Despite their well-documented financial issues, club officials refused to allow the legendary Argentine to link up with Manchester City.
Rather than being prepared to accept a big-money offer for the 33-year-old, previous chief Josep Maria Bartomeu insisted that a €700m (£630.32m) release clause needed to be activated.
However, Tusquets has revealed that he would have given the green light for Messi to leave Camp Nou a year before the end of his contract.
Speaking to RAC1, Tusquets said: "Economically speaking, I would've sold Messi in the summer window.
"Both in terms of what you save on the wage bill as well as the money you make, it would've been desirable. But this is something the coaching staff have to consent to and that's not my place.
"La Liga are setting salary limits at the moment and this would've helped on that front."
Messi will be able to discuss terms with foreign clubs from the beginning of January.
