Barcelona Urges Defender to Take a 60% Pay Cut, Defer His Salary

• Barcelona wrapped up La Liga in style over the weekend
• Barcelona are focusing on resolving their Financial Fair Play issues
• Player salary cuts will be necessary in order to achieve the margin required

Barcelona sealed La Liga in an emphatic fashion with a 4-2 away victory to city rivals Espanyol. Now with their season objective achieved, attention gradually shifts to their hovering financial crisis.

Focusing on resolving their Financial Fair Play issues ahead of the summer transfer window, player sales and salary cuts will be necessary in order to achieve the margin required to register new players before next season.

The Catalan club has wasted little time in getting into full-swing action. According to Spanish Journalist Gerard Romero, Barcelona president Joan Laporta and his brother-in-law Alejandro Echevarria met with veteran defender Jordi Alba last evening to discuss his prospects ahead of the next season.

5 Chelsea stars Pochettino wants to build the Blues around

Football

Alba’s current contract with Barça expires at the end of the next season, in 2024. But due to past deferred wage payments and the incremental nature of his contract, the Spaniard will be owed a massive €38 million in wages for 2023/24.

Given that the Blaugrana are in no position to pay that, they are said to be considering mutually terminating his contract or reaching an agreement with the 34-year-old over a pay reduction.

Now, as per Romero, Laporta and Alba met on Tuesday evening and discussed the possibilities for the veteran left-back.

It is claimed that the Barça president told Alba that he must take a 60% pay cut and agree to defer his salary by two more years if he wishes to continue at the club beyond the ongoing campaign. It would mean that the Blaugrana would be paying the defender after his contract expires in 2024.

The 2 players Chelsea want to offer Atletico to land Joao Felix permanently

Football

The report from Romero stated that the Spanish international has not given an answer as of yet.

However, a different report from Helena Condis claimed that Alba reiterated his desire to fulfil his contract at Barcelona to Laporta and insisted that he would be willing to help the club.

Alba limited to bench role

The 34-year-old has lost his spot in the starting XI to Alejandro Balde, who is close to signing a new contract. So, Alba’s game-time will be severely limited next season, but he seems to be willing to accept that and stay at the club for one more year.

As for the salary reduction, it remains to be seen if Barcelona indeed have asked to cut his wages by 60% and if so, whether he agrees to those conditions.

Jordi Alba caught mocking Gil

Alongside Ferran Torres, Sports Brief earlier reported that defender Jordi Alba was caught laughing at Espanyol's Oscar Gil.

Modric puts rivalry aside to pen a touching tribute to Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets

Football

 The Barcelona duo were caught laughing at the complicated situation of their cross-city neighbours, who are fully immersed in the relegation battle, while also making comments at the opposition's expense.

Marcos Alonso and Eric García also laughed along with their teammates on the bench but did not appear to have insults of their own to add.