FC Barcelona Consider Huge ‘Collective Salary Reduction’ To Offset Stadium Change Losses: Reports

FC Barcelona are considering a huge “collective salary reduction” among their first team players to offset the losses made from their temporary stadium relocation next season, Relevo has reported.

Barca will play their home games at the Montjuic Stadium constructed for the 1992 Olympic Games in 2023/2024 while necessary work is done to their usual Camp Nou home.

The club has officially estimated that this switch will incur losses of €93 million ($101.5 million), but internal sources that have spoken to Relevo put the figure above €100 million ($109 million).

El Nacional reported last month how Barca believe they can make up for some of this economic damage by signing Lionel Messi, which is sure to guarantee a full house at the 56,000-holding Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys as Montjuic is officially known.

Meanwhile, however, Barca are looking at ways to reduce their spending on salaries after being warned that they must make a reduction of €200 million ($218 million) in this area by La Liga president Javier Tebas.

According to Relevo, one of the ways they might do this is by requesting individual salary reductions worth 15% and deferrals which are currently being considered by Tebas’ Barca counterpart Joan Laporta and his board.

While those with lengthy contracts are asked for a mixture of reductions and deferrals, this is not possible for players whose deals end in 2024 and they would therefore only be asked to take a reduction.

In the case of some stars such as Jordi Alba, whose terms expire in 2024, he might receive an extension offer until 2025 so that his pay can either be reduced or deferred – if not both.

It has been estimated that the reductions, deferrals and renewals could make a total saving of €70 million ($76 million) for Barca, in the first potential mass reduction since 2020 when former president Josep Bartomeu also asked players to bring their pay down by 15%.

Simultaneously, Barca have to try and pull this off and also find a way for Lionel Messi to potentially rejoin the club with a meeting to convince La Liga they can make the numbers work scheduled for next week, SPORT reports.