Barcelona set to save €40 million in bonuses following trophyless campaign
FC Barcelona’s season is close to completion, as merely four games remain before the team can fully divert their focus to the upcoming summer transfer window.
While the Catalan giants’ dreams of winning any trophies have been put to bed after a slip-up against Girona confirmed Real Madrid’s status as league winners, the challenging season for Barcelona comes with a silver lining.
Financial relief
Indeed, according to AS Barcelona’s struggles this season will allow them to avoid paying bonuses totalling about €40 million.
With the exception of the Spanish Super Cup, which necessitates separate negotiation, this amount indicates what players would have received in accordance with their contracts for winning competitions like La Liga, the Champions League, or the Copa del Rey.
Winning La Liga would have meant €750,000 per player while clinching the Champions League would have been worth €1 million each.
The Cup has its own rules for bonuses; it is only valued if accompanied by La Liga or the Champions League, adding up to €250,000 on top of the prize for the other trophy.
In contrast, the club awarded bonuses of almost €20 million to win La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup the previous season.
This season, there has been no financial gain whatsoever. Inconsistent performances in La Liga and a Champions League run that was halted by PSG, along with an early exit from the Cup against Athletic Bilbao, paint a grim picture both on and off the field.
Moreover, the prospect of finishing third in the league would deal a heavy blow, potentially resulting in a loss of almost €15 million: seven from TV rights and eight from missing out on the Spanish Super Cup.
Similar to the players, the coaching staff and staff members also possess bonuses in their contracts for winning titles, although the reward is much smaller.
Last year, winning La Liga and the Super Cup translated to around €25,000 each for staff members.
As such, even though Barcelona would much rather secure titles and the revenue that comes from them, Barça can take some salvation knowing nearly €40 million in bonuses are being saved in this economic crisis.
