Messi Confirms 70 Percent Wage Reductions For Barcelona Players
Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has confirmed that the club’s first team players have agreed to reduce their salaries by 70 percent during the coronavirus pandemic.
The players will also make additional contributions to help the club’s non-playing staff take home their full salaries during this uncertain period.
Like most leagues around Europe, the Spanish La Liga has been suspended due to the Coronavirus pandemic with 13 games still left to play and many clubs are struggling to bring in revenue in the absence of matchday ticket sales.
In a statement released on Instagram, Messi also denied reports that the Barcelona players were reluctant in parting with their money.
“A lot has been written and spoken about the first team of Barcelona in terms of the salaries of the players during this period of a state of emergency,” the six-time Ballon d’or winner wrote.
"Before anything else, we want to clarify that our will has always been to apply a reduction in the salary that we receive, because we understand perfectly that we're going through an exceptional situation and we are the first who have ALWAYS helped the club when we have been asked to do so.
"This includes many times we have done so through our own initiative, at other moments when we have thought it necessary or important.
"It doesn't stop surprising us that from within the club there were those who will try to put us under the magnifying glass and try to add pressure to do something that we always knew we would do.
"In fact, the agreement was delayed for a few days simply because we were looking for a formula to help the club and also its staff in such difficult times.
"For our part, the moment has come to announce that, aside from the 70 per cent reduction of our salary during the state of emergency, we will also make contributions so that club employees can collect 100 per cent of their salary while this situation lasts.
"If we didn't speak until now, it was because the priority for us was to find real solutions to help the club, but also those who were most affected by this situation.
"We don't want to say goodbye without sending a loving greeting and a lot of strength to all the fans who are finding things difficult in these hard times, as well as all those who are patiently waiting in their homes for the end of this crisis.
"Very soon, we're going to get through this and we will all do it together."
Spain have recorded 85,195 Covid-19 cases with 7,340 deaths.
