Now they’ve been told to keep those bills at a lower level than Premier League newcomer Watford FC.

Spanish league La Liga has set new limits on squad spending, capping Barcelona’s wage bill at €97.94 million, La Liga managing director Jose Guerra said in a news conference.

The closest comparison in the English Premier League – the world’s most lucrative football league – is Watford, a mid-level team that spent less than €111.2 million, according to company filings.

Watford have never won a major trophy in English football, while Barcelona have won five Champions League titles.

La Liga calculates the salary cap based on a club’s wages and revenue.

Barcelona are expected to post a loss of €487 million for last season that just ended.

Real Madrid CF, Barcelona’s historic rival, will be allowed to spend an amount more than seven times higher, with the limit set at €739.2 million.

Barcelona also lag behind the rest of Spain’s top clubs, including Atletico Madrid, whose cap is €171.6 million, and Sevilla FC with €200.4 million.

Selling Messi hasn’t been enough to tackle Barcelona’s debt pile, which in August amounted to €1.35 billion, according to the club’s president Joan Laporta.