Barcelona to cut salaries of another two first-team players

Barcelona have requested a meeting with the agents of Sergi Roberto and Sergio Busquets to discuss salary reductions, according to reports in Spain.

Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo has reported that Barca were due to meet with the agents of both players this morning, and that the club hope the meeting between both parties will be “final”.

They claim that Busquets’ salary decrease will be 25% until the summer of 2022, at which point he will revert back to his current wage.

Roberto’s decrease, meanwhile, will be 40%. The 29-year-old currently only has one year left on his deal. However, the report claims he will sign a new contract until 2024 alongside his new salary commitment.

The news follows the announcement earlier this month that Gerard Pique had agreed to a pay cut.

In doing so, it allowed the club to register new signings Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia.

Meanwhile, ESPN have reported today that Jordi Alba has agreed to a “significant” reduction in his salary.

Barcelona utilise a leadership structure in their squad which involves four captains.

Busquets acts as the senior captain, with Pique the vice-captain. Roberto and Alba are third and fourth captains respectively.

The leadership group was adjusted following the departure of previous captain Lionel Messi to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month.

Pique on Barca pay cuts

Following his decision to take a pay cut, Pique said that more Barca stars were close to following suit.

Speaking to Movistar (quotes via Goal), he said: “I want to stress that we’ve been in contact with the other captains over the pay cut and I know they’ll take the same step shortly, it’s just a question of timing.

“I had to be the first to do it quickly, because of the registration issue.

“But this is a family, we’re all together, the captains have all had the intention from the first moment to adjust to what the club needed, and that’s the decision we’ve taken and we’re proud of it.”

Pique was given a loud ovation from the Barca fans in attendance during their LaLiga opening day 4-2 win over Real Sociedad after news of his pay cut broke.

The 34-year-old opened the scoring on the night. It was his first league goal in almost two years.

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