Barcelona's Dilemma: Players' Wage Bills Cut To IDR 2.4 Trillion, Squad Depth Is Now A Problem

JAKARTA - Barcelona has cut 145 million euros or around IDR 2.4 trillion from their wage bill this summer. However, a new problem arose. What's that?

Barca have been in financial trouble since the COVID-19 pandemic and the chaotic leadership of Josep Maria Bartomeu, so current president Joan Laporta has had to make very difficult spending cuts.

Nothing is more painful than the departure of Lionel Messi to PSG. However, there were a number of other departures that were made out of necessity.

Antoine Griezmann ended his dismal stay at the club by returning to Atletico Madrid - taking his hefty salary with him. Then other players left including Emerson Royal and Junior Firpo.

Then, what is the effect of Barca's warehouse cleaning? Quite a lot, especially with regard to squad depth.

First, players who have left are replaced by players of lower quality.

Luuk de Jong and Memphis Depay are good players, but they won't attack defenses like Messi and Griezmann.

Second, the current Barcelona squad is built to balance the financial books. Not related to the strategy and needs of the coach.

This means, for example, that there is an excess of centre-backs but very few reserves at left-back.

But on the other hand, this shed wash is the right approach considering the situation. Reporting MARCA, the amount of wages that must be paid Barcelona now remains 420 million euros (IDR 7.1 trillion) - down from 565 million euros (IDR 9.5 trillion), or a decrease of 30 percent.

Barca certainly hope, this is the beginning of their economic recovery.