Barcelona ‘face BANKRUPTCY by January unless they cut enormous wage bill by £170m’

Barcelona must cut ‘club’s enormous wage bill by £170m’ through player sales and agreeing paycuts with Lionel Messi and Co to avoid risk of BANKRUPTCY by January… after talks with players’ lawyers ahead of deadline next week

  • Huge financial troubles are now closing in on Spanish giants Barcelona
  • The club has a crippling wage bill which must be reduced to balance the books
  • Reports in Spain now claim Barca are now forced to reduce salaries by £170m
  • Agreement must be made by next Thursday so Barca can announce its budget 

Barcelona are now entering financial crisis territory and run the risk of bankruptcy in January of next year, according to reports in Spain.

The Spanish giants have an eye-watering wage bill which is crippling the club and is said to be in urgent need of cutting by around £170million.

Today talks have begun with the legal representatives of the first team players regarding the ongoing situation and their current salaries, as report Spain-based EsportsRAC.

Financial crisis is mounting at Barcelona with the club reportedly on the brink of bankruptcy

A deadline has been set for next week, Thursday November 5, in order for the club to reach a resolution and work out exactly how finances will be put in order going forward.

Barca have to agree wage cuts by the November 5 date in order to announce the budget for this season.

Current income is projected at £746m (€828m) – a drop of £231m – meaning players are now being called upon to make long-term sacrifices. 

Next Thursday sees the deadline with which Barca has to agree cuts, to then release a budget

Next Thursday sees the deadline with which Barca has to agree cuts, to then release a budget

The news emerges after the under pressure Josep Maria Bartomeu walked away as president

The news emerges after the under pressure Josep Maria Bartomeu walked away as president

BARCA’S BIG EARNERS

Lionel Messi – £500,000 per week

Antoine Griezmann – £294,000 a week

Gerard Pique – £220,000 a week

Philippe Coutinho – 180,000-per-week 

Jordi Alba – £170,000-per-week

Sergio Busquets- £170,000-per-week

Sportsmail understands an initial round of talks on Friday were positive with players understanding the situation and happy to work with Carles Tusquets, the interim president.

The most likely and expected outcome is that players agree to receive same salaries but over a long period of time.

This is essentially the case with goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Frenkie De Jong, Clement Lenglet and Gerard Pique, who have already agreed to their contract extensions.

Barca hope to do this across the whole playing squad, and would not mean players have their salaries lowered, but rather their payments would be restructured and paid in smaller instalments to help cash flow.

The news comes in the aftermath of the exit of president Josep Bartomeu, who quit the club last week and walked away after months of constant criticism. 

Earlier in the year Barca senior players took a string of pay-cuts in line with the club’s battling against the crushing effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

In early October it was announced that the Spanish giants would be undertaking yet another rounds of cuts, after revealing an £88million loss in profits.

Players took a 70 per cent pay-cut back in March to ensure non-playing staff received all of their wages with the pandemic shutting down the sport.

Covid-19 travel restrictions meant fans were unable to visit the Nou Camp and club shops

Covid-19 travel restrictions meant fans were unable to visit the Nou Camp and club shops

It still remains unclear as to whether the new talks of pay-cuts would give the squad the power to rescind contracts and walk away for free.

A key issue the club have had to content with before pushing on with planned cuts is how another reduction would affect the Spanish Workers’ Statute.

A report in Spanish publication Marca makes the claim that judicial sources in Spain have indicated to them that players and employees may have the legal right to rescind their contract if deals are modified for financial reasons.

The ongoing pandemic means Barca have lost out in all areas, with their enormous Nou Camp stadium no longer benefiting from the mass arrivals of paying supporters, while the absence of tourism in Barcelona has seen the club shops and resources suffer as a result.

Barca’s limited dealings in the transfer market were largely down to the financial armageddon the club are battling through.

Ronald Koeman was hampered in the transfer market due to having limited funds available

Ronald Koeman was hampered in the transfer market due to having limited funds available

The Barca boss wanted Memphis Depay from Lyon but the club could not finance a deal

The Barca boss wanted Memphis Depay from Lyon but the club could not finance a deal

Manager Ronald Koeman made Lyon attacker Memphis Depay a top target but Barcelona were unable to finance a deal for the Dutchman on deadline day.

Barca were also linked with Eric Garcia of Manchester City and Liverpool’s Georgino Wijnaldum, though deals for either player could not be completed in time for the summer window.

It is understood Barca and Koeman still hold a strong interest, and will return for the two stars as their current contracts creep closer to expiration.



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