What Messi said about 70% pay-cut at Barcelona

Barcelona star player, Lionel Messi has revealed why he and his teammates agreed to a pay-cut at the club.

With coronavirus fast shutting global activities, which is also affecting football, Barcelona has decided that 70% of player's salary will be cut to help the club survive the period.

Messi who agreed to the deal revealed in a statement on Monday that the players at the club will also be making other contributions.

“We want to clarify that our desire has always been for a reduction to be applied to our salaries because we understand that this is an exceptional situation and we are the first that have ALWAYS helped the club with what they have asked of us.

“Many times we have even done things on our own accord, at moments when we felt it necessary or important to do so.

“For that reason, it doesn’t cease to surprise us that from inside the club there would be people that want to put us under a magnifying glass or try to pressure us into something that we were always clear we wanted to do. In fact, if the agreement has dragged on, it’s because we were looking for a formula to help the club and its workers in these difficult times.

“For our part, the moment has arrived to announce that, aside from the 70% wage cut during the State of Emergency, we are going to also make contributions so that all the club’s employees can earn 100% of their salaries for as long as this situation lasts,” the statement read.

Barcelona President, Josep Maria Bartomeu stated that Messi was the brain behind the pay-cut idea.

“Messi told me from day one that this reduction had to be made.

“This proposal came from the captains. It is a gesture that demonstrates their commitment to the club,” Bartomeu told SPORT.