ROMA have announced that their players and management have agreed to give up four months’ wages to help ease the club’s financial troubles during the coronavirus crisis.
Paulo Fonseca’s side last played on March 1 because of the outbreak of Covid-19 with no timeframe as to if or when Serie A season will resume.
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Roma have confirmed that their players and coaching staff have agreed to take a pay cutCredit: EPA
Italy has been particularly affected by the spread of the deadly bug, with over 23,000 people dying.
But Roma revealed in a statement on Sunday that their players, boss Fonseca, and the club’s coaching staff would forego the four months’ salary they were due to receive between March and the scheduled end of the season in June.
The Rome outfit also said that Chris Smalling and Co would ensure other club employees would receive their regular monthly income by topping up the wages of those placed on the Italian government’s social safety net scheme.
Roma CEO Guido Fienga said: “We always talk about unity at Roma and in volunteering to cut their salaries for the rest of the season, the players, the coach, and his staff, have all proved that we really are in this together.
Edin Dzeko, all the players and Paulo have demonstrated they understand what this club stands for and we also thank them all for their superb gesture
Roma
“[Club captain] Edin Dzeko, all the players and Paulo have demonstrated they understand what this club stands for and we also thank them all for their superb gesture towards the employees at this club.”
In Spain, Lionel Messi confirmed Barcelona players would be taking a 70 per cent pay cut while Chelsea’s stars have joined the Premier League effort by unanimously agreeing to take a £10million hit.
Roma added that their players and coaches have settled on a an incentive-based payment plan if the club meets certain targets should the season restart.
A letter from the players to the club on social media read: “We are writing to express our support to the company for all that it is doing in this period to overcome the difficulties created by the Covid-19 emergency.
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“We players are ready to start playing as soon as possible, giving the maximum to achieve our goals, but we also realise that all this will not be enough to face the economic consequences of the current emergency.
“With the hope of doing something that will help the company to better restart the Roma project that we all share, we offer this financial proposal.
“We also confirm all of our support for the initiatives of AS Roma and Roma Cares to help those who find themselves in difficulty because of the virus. Forza Roma!”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk