Barcelona Financial Crisis
Some of Barcelona’s veteran players are taking a pay cut to help assist the club financially. Pique is already on a pay cut and also made it known that veteran teammates Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Sergi Roberto, are going to make the decision also.
Who made the first move?
Pique made it known that he had to be the first to take the pay cut, in order to allow the club to be able to register some of their new players in time for their first La Liga game of the season. Barcelona was victorious with a 4-2 win at the Camp Nou against Real Sociedad.
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The Catalan giants lost Lionel Messi because of their financial situation. Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia, the newly signed players, couldn’t have been registered without Pique’s salary reduction.
The 34-year-old Pique said that It’s what had to be done and that the other Barca veterans will do the same soon. The timing issue made him take the decision first so they could register the players.
He said the captains have always intended to make the adjustments needed by the club.
They are proud of this decision and added that sometimes there can be misunderstandings in his reply to some reports that Alba had not intended to reduce his salary. Pique said that after the last season ended, the captains talked and they were in agreement to try to reach a deal with the club.
Alba said it hurt to hear “lies” about his commitment to Barcelona. He also cleared the idea that the club couldn’t keep Messi because other players didn’t agree to a pay cut. He said that he has always committed to the club. No one should doubt him that he has been with the club for 10 years, and eight more in the youth squads. The club is his home, his life, and he will always help it.
Barcelona’s debt crisis
The debt on record is more than 1.2 billion euros ($1.9 billion). Barcelona president Joan Laporta blamed it on the administration of Josep Bartomeu for leaving the club in its current state, which led to Messi’s departure to PSG.
What it meant for the club was that all of the first team players will be available for selection by Ronald Koeman for this Sunday’s opening Liga fixture against Real Sociedad.
In the statement by the President, it read that the club will continue to work with two of the other captains, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba in their agreement to the salary cut. He also commended the players on their willingness to cooperate.
