It is amazing what a few days can do to change ones mind. The players at Barcelona were adamant that they were not going to take a wage cut and now they are going to lose a huge chunk of change.
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This had to happen as we have seen many other teams coming forward now including Juventus in the last few days. What Barcelona have done is they have thrown away any negotiating strengths they had by coming out with a definite "NO" first up. Not very smart on their part as they will now lose more than what they possibly could have bargained for.
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Barcelona want to cut the wage bill by a whopping 70 percent for the rest of the season. The players have offered the balance of 30 percent which is too little to late and can now see the club either cutting the salaries in half as a minimum. I do think if the team had originally said 30 percent last week for the next 3 months the club would have been delighted.
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Players are being given exercises to complete whilst at home.
With other teams publicizing their wage cuts 30 percent was not a great deal for the club and I would hope to see them shaft the players and install the 70 percent they are now discussing and not negotiating. The players were not smart at all and whoever was "negotiating" and advising them on their behalf should be shot. Most likely agents were involved and now they must suffer the stupidity of their team stand of refusing to take a wage cut.
Barcelona like any club right now is looking at trimming some fat away with little or no revenue accumulating in the bank. Match day income plus all the extras from the clubs shops has stopped resulting in losses of £5.5m per home game. Throw in the distribution network that sells their replica jerseys and it is big money sorely missed.
The club turned over an average of £2m per day last year and the longer this goes on the more they are going to lose. Possibly this forced break could last 3 months so in excess of £200 Million will have to be found to cover the losses. Players salaries is the biggest expense and the most obvious one to cut first.
If and when the season can start again the club could possibly make some back as the games missed will have to be played if the season doesn't end prematurely. Saying that 3 months of fans having no income could have an effect on gate receipts as very few supporters will be flush enough to cough up for 2 fixtures per week if it comes to that which it most likely will. Clubs are going to have to play extra fixtures and squeeze the season in if there is a chance with the time available.