Barcelona

Barcelona 'to ask captains to take 50% pay cut'

By Matthew Tranter, Reporter | 03 June 2022

Barcelona prepare to ask their four captains to take a further 50% pay cut in the coming weeks due to the club's continued financial problems, according to a report.

Barcelona have prepared to ask their four captains to take a further 50% pay cut in the coming weeks due to the club's continued financial problems, according to a report.

The Catalan side found themselves with serious issues only last summer following several years of financial mismanagement, which led to them having to delay the registrations of new signings Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay, whilst they were unable to retain the services of Lionel Messi, due to La Liga's tight wage structure placed upon the club.

Those issues appear to be continuing as things stand, with Barcelona currently unable to complete the free transfer signings of Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen due to their financial predicament.

Despite seeing several players already agree to wage cuts last summer in order to register the arrivals of new teammates, the club are set to ask the four captains - Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Sergio Roberto - to agree to further wage reductions in the coming weeks, according to Deportes Cuatro.

The report suggests that the request could well cause an "earthquake" within the squad at the Camp Nou, whilst it may also see players such as Busquets and Pique have their pay divided over several years, meaning they would continue to receive wages from the club even after leaving.

Meanwhile, Barcelona continue to find themselves in a war of words with La Liga president Javier Tebas over the potential arrival of Robert Lewandowski, with the league's chief continuing to publicly deny the club's chances of signing the Polish striker due to their inability to afford such a deal.