Which players are set to take a wage cut at Barcelona?
Cameron Smith
- 9 Aug 2022 21:47 BST
- 3 min read
Three Barcelona players are set to agree to reduce their wages in order to help the club register their new summer signings.
Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Raphinha, Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie have all joined the Camp Nou side this summer, but they aren't currently able to play in the Spanish top flight after Barcelona were told to raise funds and reduce their wage bill by La Liga.
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With finances a barrier this summer, Barcelona have already activated three economic levers, sacrificing future wealth for immediate money, which enabled them to add the aforementioned players to their squad.
However, it's not been enough and La Liga have informed the Blaugrana that action needs to be taken. In response to that, it's been reported that a fourth lever will be activated, while wage cuts will also help solve the problem.
The salary of players has been a talking point for a while at Barcelona, with the club owing Frenkie de Jong a reported €17 million in deferred wage payments, while they are said to be willing to go to court over the contract he signed upon arriving from Ajax.
The club want De Jong to take a pay cut, and Xavi has even told the Dutchman that if he wants to make it work at Camp Nou, he must make an effort and agree to reduce his salary. Barcelona reportedly want to keep De Jong, but they also want to sign Manchester City star Bernardo Silva despite not being able to afford De Jong's wages.
In addition to that, both Gerard Pique and Samuel Umiti have taken pay cuts in the past year, with the latter's agreement to reduce his salary enabling January signing Ferran Torres to be registered in La Liga.
Now, there are three players who are reportedly set to take wage cuts in order to help register the signings made this summer.
More wage cuts
According to The Athletic, Pique has agreed to take yet another pay cut in order to help his boyhood club, while Mundo Deportivo have reported that goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and midfielder Sergio Busquets will follow suit and are up for lowering their salary.
Will all three players set to lower their wages, it will free up some space on Barcelona's wage bill, which may allow them to register their new signings in La Liga.
