Lionel Messi, Phillipe Coutinho and Barcelona stars facing new pay cut - reports

Spanish giants face financial turbulence as a result of coronavirus

Ronald Koeman has said he has spoken with Lionel Messi about Luis Suarez's exit from Barcelona. Reuters

Barcelona have begun a process to reduce the pay of players, coaches and non-sporting staff to adapt to the huge losses suffered due to Covid-19, according to reports.

Staff have been notified by the club of the need to reduce costs after posting a loss of €97 million ($113.98 million) in their annual financial report, released on Monday.

The employees, including Lionel Messi, Ansu Fati, Philippe Coutinho and their teammates, have been asked to nominate a representative over the next two weeks to represent them in the negotiations over the changes to their salaries, according to Reuters.

Barca have been forced to hold all home matches without spectators since the pandemic began in March, destroying revenue from ticket sales. Income from merchandising and stadium and museum tours has also been badly affected by a huge drop in tourism to the city.

Barca's accounts on Wednesday made for grim reading, showing a 14 per cent drop in revenue from the previous year and the doubling of their net debt to €488m.

The club enacted a temporary pay cut of 70 per cent at the end of March during the height of the pandemic, lasting the duration of Spain's national state of alarm, which ended in June.

Barca's financial troubles also led them to spend the close season lightening the biggest wage bill in European football, offloading Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic and Arturo Vidal for next to nothing, while selling Arthur Melo for €72m and Nelson Semedo for €30m.

________________

Barca v Sevilla player ratings

• 

  BARCELONA PLAYER RATINGS: Neto. 5 – Had little to do other than pick the ball out of the back of the net in the first half. He could do little to stop Luuk de Jong’s thunderous effort, though he did get a hand to it. Was quick off his line to sweep up when needed. On one occasion he almost got caught in possession by Rakitic when attempting a drag back under pressure. Reuters

• 

  Sergi Roberto. 6 – Solid distribution throughout and, as ever, loved to get forward. Barca’s attacking play was predominantly down the left hand side, but he was always available, and his crossing was a danger all game. Reuters

• 

  Ronald Araujo. 5 – Came in to replace former Sevilla man Clement Lenglet and struggled to keep up with Suso and Ocampos at times. His pin-perfect long ball set Griezmann free early on in the second half. He came close to scoring an own goal when he deflected the ball onto his crossbar. Getty Images

• 

  Gerard Pique. 6 – A busy evening for Pique who had to establish a relationship with Araujo and was under pressure from the Sevilla press all game. Showed tremendous positional sense throughout to win virtually every header. AFP

• 

  Jordi Alba. 5 – Tried to catch out Bono with a free-kick but his effort finished wide. Was sometimes caught out by Sevilla’s pace on the break and left the field injured before the end. AFP

• 

  Sergio Busquets. 6 – The master of keeping possession even when pressed, Busquets is accustomed to the kind of pressure applied by the Sevilla midfield. Still, it was an evening of tight margins and few spaces, and he hardly had a moment to think before he was closed down. He did well to block a cross from Ocampos with Sevilla on the attack, and then enjoyed a few forays forward towards the end. Getty Images

• 

  Frenkie de Jong. 5 – The Dutchman was constantly pressed and found it hard to find any consistency, though he did well to link defence and attack. He ventured forward in the closing minutes and came close to converting a Busquets cross. EPA

• 

  Philippe Coutinho. 6 – The Brazilian’s fine form continued as he found himself in the right place at the right time to seize on Jesus Navas’ mistake and level the scores. Linked well with Fati on the left, though drifted out of the game as it wore on and was later substituted. EPA

• 

  Lionel Messi. 7 – The Argentine was involved in Barca’s equaliser; he sent a delicious ball towards Alba that caused confusion in the Sevilla defence, and enabled Coutinho to fire home. Played in a deep-lying role to try and get his side going, he came close to scoring before the break when he cut in front the right hand side and again with a low effort from range in the second. Was brought down in the area several times towards the end but wasn’t rewarded with a penalty. AFP

• 

  Ansu Fati. 7 – The in-form youngster exuded confidence early on with a number of neat flicks coming in from the left hand side. His first shot on goal was comfortably saved by Bono. His final ball sometimes let him down, but he looked a constant threat when running at the Sevilla defence before he was substituted. Reuters

• 

  Antoine Griezmann. 5 – The Frenchman twice came close to scoring in the first half; first with an acrobatic effort that saw him penalised for using a high foot, and again when through on goal, but his first touch was heavy and he was slow to get his shot away. Similarly, when through on goal after the break, he took a heavy touch and missed the opportunity to fire at goal. Looked short of confidence. AFP

• 

  SUBS: Pedri (Fati 60) 5. – The 17-year-old did little to change the game when he came on, though he will have loved the opportunity in such a big game. AFP

• 

  Trincao (Griezmann 60). 6 – Enjoyed a foray down the right 10 minutes after coming on but his cross to the far post was cleared for a corner. Then had a glorious chance to win it cutting in from the right but his shot was saved. EPA

• 

  Miralem Pjanic (Coutinho 75). N/A – Made his presence felt with a thundering challenge soon after coming on. Getty Images

• 

  Sergino Dest (Alba 75). N/A – The first American player to play for Barcelona’s first team and the fifth US international to play in La Liga, he looked lively when he came on and set up Messi for a strike at goal from 25 yards. AP Photo

________________

They only brought in three players, Miralem Pjanic, Francisco Trincao and Sergino Dest for a combined €112m.

They failed to make any extra additions before the transfer window shut on Monday, despite showing interest in Manchester City defender Eric Garcia and Olympique Lyonnais forward Memphis Depay.