Pique ´proud´ captains are taking pay cuts to help cash-strapped Barca

Gerard Pique says cash-strapped Barcelona’s captaincy group are “proud” to take a pay cut after he scored in a 4-2 LaLiga victory over Real Sociedad.

Barca revealed on the eve of the club’s opening game of the campaign that Pique had taken a “substantial” reduction in his wages in order for Depay, Eric Garcia and Rey Manaj to be registered.

Pique’s gesture ensured the Catalan giants, who were unable to keep Lionel Messi due to their financial troubles, are within the salary cap.

Fellow skippers Sergio Busquets, Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba are also prepared to take a pay cut.

Depay started to repay Pique by setting up the opening goal on his debut and Martin Braithwaite struck twice, with Sergi Roberto completing the scoring after late goals from Julen Lobete and Mikel Oyarzabal gave La Real hope of salvaging an undeserved point at Camp Nou.

Pique criticised the way the club has been run following Messi’s departure, but the Spain centre-back was determined to do everything in his powers to ease their problems.

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— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 15, 2021

He told LaLiga TV: “I was born here, I was brought up here. I’ve lived all my life pretty much in Barcelona and I’ve been a player for Barcelona for a long, long time.

“It was a gesture [to reduce his wages], I think it was the gesture that was required. I’m in contact with the other captains as well. I think they’re going to make a very similar step very shortly. I wanted to be the first to get it done.

“We’re a family here. All the captains have the same intentions to help the team. It’s a decision that we’ve taken and we’re proud of the decision we’ve taken. There’s plenty of desire to keep performing and keep playing well

“I think sometimes people talk a lot and don’t understand the situation properly. Right from the end of last season I’ve been in touch with Sergi Roberto, with Jordi Alba, with Sergio Busquets and it’s something that has to be agreed with the club.

“The club needed someone to do this so we could register the players in time for the first game. I was the one that did it but the other players are prepared to do it.

“Sometimes the information that comes out isn’t 100 per cent clear. It’s not complete. But the club have asked players to make a sacrifice and players are going to do that. All the players have wanted to help the club.”

Some Barca fans chanted Messi’s name in the 10th minute, although some were not impressed with that gesture.

Pique is confident Ronald Koeman’s side can have a season to remember without their leading all-time goalscorer, who joined Paris Saint-Germain after his contract expired.

“We knew the supporters would react the way they’ve reacted,” said Pique. “I’m not going to talk to you about what Lionel Messi means to this club, we all know that. The most important player in the history of this club and the most important player in the history of football.

“But everything changes, nothing stays the same for ever. We have to keep going and I think we’ve got real quality. I’m convinced we’re going to compete for everything this season

“We’ll miss Leo, of course we will, but the team has shown in this game that we’re all together, we’ve got goals in the side and despite the fact we were a little bit looser in the second half they didn’t create too many chances throughout the game. I think we’re going to enjoy ourselves this season.”