Barca's top earners excluding Messi:
They couldn't offload any of these players. Messi had agreed to take a 50% pay-cut.
Bartomeu screwed them big time. At this stage, one really can't blame Laporta or the players. However, Laporta ran on extending Messi's deal, cleaning the mess, and signing Haaland. Of course, it takes time, but he's not the saint most Barca fans would want you to believe.
It's also proven that Messi generates more revenue for Barcelona than he takes in wages.
They had an option between signing Messi in a new deal, or forgoing any future involvement in a super league. They opted for the latter. Accto Madrid's court, all 12 founding members are still officially part of the super league.
Make what you want of that.