Even if a player hasn’t really impressed in recent years, it’s still unlikely that they’ll go into contract talks with a view to cutting their salary.
It’s a possible reality for players at the biggest clubs just now as financial problems are starting to catch up with them, but Barcelona are playing an incredibly risky game with Ousmane Dembele.
It was reported that his transfer fee could rise to around £135m when he was signed from Borussia Dortmund, but he’s really struggled to nail down a regular spot in the team due to injuries.
His contract will expire next summer so something needs to be sorted just now, and there were even reports from Spain which stated he would be banished to the stands if he didn’t agree a new deal.
??RENOVACIÓ DEMBÉLÉ
?El Barça li planteja reduir al 50% el que cobra, i, en comptes de 5 anys, que és el termini més habitual per fer un contracte nou, la proposta del Barça és per quatre temporades, via @xavicampos
Més informació?? https://t.co/z0P3eV0PNj
— Tot costa (@totcosta) June 28, 2021
That’s been complicated due to an injury that he picked up during the Euros so it’s going to be tough to shift him, but Barca’s contract is offer is said to only be worth 50% of his current salary.
If he does refuse to sign then it’s easy to see him running his deal down and leaving for nothing next summer, so Barca are not in a strong place with these negotiations.
It may purely come down to how much he wants to succeed at the Nou Camp.