On Monday, January 10th, 2022 the Barcelona football club’s French defender, Samuel Umtiti, agreed with Barcelona to take a salary cut in order for them to sign and add to their squad the Spanish forward Ferran Torres. The signing of Torres was actually publicly presented last week, but Ferran was not added to the team’s roster yet because it would breach the Spanish LaLiga League’s stern financial fair play rules policy.
The Barcelona football club and Umtiti agreed upon terms to extend Samuel’s contract until the year 2026 which effectively decreased a portion of his salary that he was due to receive during this year and following several months of his previous deal with the organization. This in turn enabled Barca to sign and add Torres to their team’s roster.
Barcelona originally paid an initial cost of 55 million euros or $62 million in order to sign Torres from the Manchester City football club. The now 21 – year – old Spanish forward, Ferran, signed a 5 – year deal with the Barcelona football club that included a buyout clause of 1 billion euros or $1.1 billion.
Barca’s team captains including Gerard Piqué, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Sergi Roberto have all previously taken salary cuts last year (2021) in order to help out the football club that has recently found themselves in financial trouble over the last few years. Lionel Messi agreed to a 50 % salary decrease too, but that was not enough for the Barcelona football club to be able to keep him signed with Barca as Messi eventually left for the French club in Paris Saint – Germain.
Torres has not been able to play professional football since the month of October 20212 due to his recent foot injury that he happened to endure during his international duties with his home nation of Spain.
Ferran was just one of the several Barcelona football players who tested positive for the COVID – 19 pandemic recently, but he was cleared on Monday, January 10th, 2022, and Torres will now join the remainder of the team in Saudi Arabia for the upcoming Spanish Super Cup. Barcelona is presently set to play Real Madrid in the semifinals on Wednesday, January 12th, 2022.
Their midfielder in Pedri González has also recently tested negative on Monday, January 10th, 2022, and he will travel to Saudi Arabia alongside his new teammate Torres.
Media Statements
“Through this contract extension, Barcelona will be able to increase its ‘financial fair play’ quota and thus register Torres with the Spanish league. Barcelona wishes to publicly express its gratitude to Samuel Umtiti for his willingness and the affection that he has demonstrated towards the club,” the Barcelona football club explained in a recently released statement to the public.
Sources:
The Associated Press News Services. “Umtiti takes salary cut, allows Barcelona to register Torres”. The Associated Press. January 9, 2022.
