HEROIC Hector Bellerin revealed his shockingly low Barcelona wages as he called on “dehumanised” footballers to pay the most tax.
The former Arsenal right-back, 27, left the Emirates for the Nou Camp last summer.
He completed a free transfer after having his Gunners contract ripped up.
But the defender – who regularly uses his voice for activism and social justice – did not demand mega wages as has become the norm among Europe’s biggest clubs.
Instead, Bellerin’s one-year deal is worth £440,000 – or less than £8,500 per week.
By comparison, his team-mate Robert Lewandowksi earns a reported £300,000 a week while some outlets suggest Frenkie de Jong is on as much as £600,000.
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Bellerin, who is a co-owner at eco-friendly Forest Green Rovers, told Catalan newspaper Ara: “I signed with Barca for 500,000 euros.
“Nowadays what worries me is playing football at the highest level.
“I am lucky that I have been doing this for many years and I am in a financially comfortable situation that allows me to enjoy the that I want.
“In the end, we don’t need as much as we think and I live a very normal life. My priorities are not based on a financial issue.”
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Generous Bellerin continued: “Footballers are the people who should pay the most taxes.
“I come from a family where there were months when we had to do the impossible to be able to eat. I continue to live with people like that, with friends, friends of the family.
“Everyone wants to earn money to be more comfortable, but with what I earn I think you have to think not only about your environment, but also about society, where there are very precarious situations.
“We footballers are in a very privileged position.
“We have worked hard and made many sacrifices, but we must be aware of what we have, where we come from and we should be the first to want to help the stability of our society.
“However, I understand that there are colleagues who think differently.
“We footballers are dehumanised, [living] in a bubble.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
