Messi confirms Barca stars will take pay-cut, help pay other wages
Barcelona: Lionel Messi confirmed through social media on Monday that Barcelona players will take a 70 per cent pay cut during Spain’s state of alarm, and help pay the wages of the rest of the club’s staff.
Spain remains in lockdown until April 11 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Football matches are cancelled until further notice and Barcelona announced across the board pay-cuts last week.
But it was widely reported that the club’s first-team footballers were against the plan.
Messi wrote on his Instagram account: “For our part, the moment has come to announce that apart from the reduction of 70 per cent of our salary during the state of alarm, we will also make contributions so that the club’s employees can collect 100 per cent of their salary while this situation lasts.”
The message of solidarity was backed up by the insinuation that the club’s hierarchy tried to show the players in a bad light with leaked suggestions they did not want to do their bit.
“It never ceases to amaze us that from within the club there were those who tried to put us under the magnifying glass, adding pressure for us to do what we were always going to do anyway,” Messi said.
Barcelona also issued a statement confirming the agreement for a 70 per cent pay cut and the extra financial gesture made by the firstteam players.
“In the case of the football team, the reduction will be more than 70 per cent. This additional contribution from the squad, plus the contribution from the club, will guarantee all non-sports personnel will receive 100 per cent of their salaries,” the club said.