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BARCELONA

Barcelona players may be asked to take financial hit to help club

According to Spanish paper La Vanguardia, the FC Barcelona board could look to the likes of Lionel Messi, Gerard Piqué and Luis Suárez to minimise the pain.

La plantilla del Barça escucha al doctor Antoni Trilla y a Josep Maria Bartomeu.
© MIGUEL RUIZDIARIO AS

As reported by Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia on Friday, the board at FC Barcelona is to urge the players in the first squad to make a positive financial gesture in light of the current economic scenario being faced during the coronavirus crisis.

Barcelona players for salary drop

The club president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, could ask the players to accept a significant drop in their salaries due to the inability of Barça to reach the recently approved budget of 1,047 million euros, nor to meet the 11-million-euro budgeted earnings. As well as the lack of matchday revenue, the club shops are closed so merchandise sales are minimal, and VIP experiences and events at the Camp Nou have also been postponed.

As we reported on Wednesday, following a meeting of senior officials at the Catalan club last Monday, they are already anticipating that the losses from the crisis were unsustainable and that severe steps needed to be taken in an attempt to keep the finances in check. La Vanguardia reported that a further meeting will take place regarding this decision on Friday, and in attendance along with Bartomeu will be the general director, Grascar Grau, the vice presidents, Emili Rousaud, Jordi Cardoner, Enrique Tombas and Jordi Moix, and the secretary of the board, Maria Teixidor.

Barça's salary bill represents 61 percent of the total budget approved by the board for the 2019-20 season. In total, 507 million euros per year is paid out in salaries and a further 135 in amortisation.

On Thursday it was announced that German side Borussia Monchengladbach players would donate part of their salaries to help pay for other staff at the club. 

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