BARCELONA have reportedly started negotiations as they look to make all staff, including Lionel Messi, take pay cuts.
Marca reports the Blaugrana are seeking to lower the wages of EVERYONE on their payroll after reporting debts of £433m.
Lionel Messi and Co are in line for pay cutsCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS
Barca are looking to modify the terms of employment of all their employees, including players and backroom staff, so they can drive down costs.
The report states the club opened a 15-day window on Wednesday for each internal department to elect a representative to front discussions.
The negotiation period is set to last a month meaning that in around 6 weeks, with the agreement of lawyers, wages could be slashed.
However, the club’s stars may REJECT the process and request an unprecedented release from their contracts in line with the Workers’ Statute.
In this scenario, Barca could end up forking out 20 days’ salary per year of service.
If highly paid long-term servants like Argentine superstar Messi, who collects £500,000 a week, opted to walk away the club would be left with a huge bill.
Some players could choose to look for a move away in January.
But Barca could ensure none leave for free by choosing not to enforce the measures on playing staff or by holding individual talks with players.
In the summer, Messi made public his desire to leave after falling out with president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
But the 33-year-old made a U-turn in September and announced he would stay for at least this season after revealing it would be too hard to take his beloved side to court to force an exit.
Bartomeu is under fire and faces an emergency vote of no confidence after 16,000 fuming fans signed a motion against him.
Bartomeu’s popularity has decreased so much that restless supporters are not prepared to wait for the presidential elections in March – with Bartomeu unable to stand for another term – to oust him.
The Catalan giants have been hit hard in the pocket by the coronavirus pandemic.
The club reported post-tax losses of £88million for the 2019-20 season.
And despite previously slashing wages during the Covid crisis, Barca still confirmed staggering debts of £433m.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez reunited for first time since striker’s Barcelona axe as they arrive at airport together
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
