‘I Will Reduce My Salary’ To Stay At FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona legend Jordi Alba has revealed that he will lower his salary in order to stay at the club, and that he feels he is the victim of a media witch hunt.

Barca have been told by La Liga president Javier Tebas that they must reduce their wage bill by €200mn ($214mn) ahead of next season.

In a press conference yesterday, his Blaugrana counterpart Joan Laporta said that half the amount had already been taken care of with a further €70mn ($75mn) spoken for by the summer.

If Barca need Alba to make sacrifices and lower his own salary to make things work, he is more than prepared to do so as communicated by a flat ‘yes’ he gave as an answer when probed on the matter in an interview with MARCA published late on Thursday night in Spain.

First asked if he will fulfil the remaining year on his contract, Alba replied: “Of course. I feel qualified, I think I’m at a good level.”

“It is true that I am not playing every game, but when I go out I try to do my best. And when I’m not playing I try to help all my teammates by supporting them from the bench.

“It’s a new facet for me because normally I’ve been lucky enough to play a lot of minutes. This year not so much, but I also have my minutes and I’m happy with this role. It is important to help my colleagues, to be with them, to advise them, and this is also positive and motivates me,” he added.

When it was then put to him whether he would lower his wages to stay in 2023/2024, Alba said: “Yes. It’s a club decision and I’ve always helped when asked. Many lies have been told in the press, but in the end I have always been there, no one can say otherwise.”

“There are things that hurt, but you have to know how to live with it. I know my truth and I am very calm. My intention is to help the club and that both parties are happy.”

Alba said that it was “more of a media issue” as to why some insist on retiring him from the Barca fold.

“I feel good, I feel capable and I have the support of the coach and teammates,” he insisted. “When I go down the street people let me know. I feel good and the day I feel that I am not capable of defending a club like Barcelona, ​​I will be the first to leave.”

With Sergio Busquets injured, Alba is likely to captain Barca on Sunday against Villarreal as he did in a 3-0 win over Sevilla last weekend that opened up an eight-point gap at the top of La Liga.

That is, of course, if he is not replaced by La Masia academy graduate Alejandro Balde as has been seen often this term.