Gerard Pique’s grand gesture pulls Barcelona out of dire straits

Camp Nou: Barcelona announced that veteran Gerard Pique took a ‘substantial wage cut’ to accommodate new signings Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia and Rey Manaj with the club complying to La Liga Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. Barcelona have issued a statement on the same.

“This fact has been possible thanks to the agreement reached with Gerard Piqué for the second Barcelona captain to significantly lower his salary,” read the statement. The Catalan giants had to limit their spending on salaries to 70 per cent of the total revenue within the FFP rules.

However, Barcelona had a huge wage bill of almost 95 per cent even after letting go of their talisman and longest-serving Lionel Messi to Paris Saint-Germain. Pique’s gesture also earned him appreciation and praise not only from the fans but also former club captain Carles Puyol.

Following the Messi debacle, where the Argentine failed to renew his association with the club despite lowering his wage, the fans were shocked and agitated with the club and its management. Messi bid an emotional farewell to the club and repeatedly mentioned how he wanted to stay.

With Pique’s gesture, the Catalan giants were able to breathe a sigh of relief, as Barcelona were able to register their new signings although Sergio Aguero, who is out for almost 10 months due to injury, is yet to be registered.

The club in their official statement also stated, “FC Barcelona has been able to register Memphis, Eric Garcia and Rey Manaj in the Professional Football League. This fact has been possible thanks to the agreement reached with Gerard Piqué for the second Barcelona captain to significantly lower his salary.

“In this way, Ronald Koeman will be able to count on all the players available for this Sunday’s game with Real Sociedad corresponding to the first day of the competition,” the statement added. The club also stated that they are working with two other captains to reach a salary agreement in view of the current situation.

“On the other hand, the club continues to work together with two of the four captains such as Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to reach a salary adjustment to the situation that the entity is currently experiencing. In this sense, it should be noted that the predisposition on the part of both players is total and absolute.”