Barcelona Wage Bill This Season Is Absolutely Staggering

Despite being reportedly in €1.3 billion worth of debt, Barcelona are set to spend a staggering amount of money on players wages in the upcoming season.

The Spanish giants were hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic requiring loans to help ease the financial loses they suffered due to the massive hits to commercial and matchday revenue, as well as poor decisions down the years in the transfer market and their extraordinary wage bills for many seasons.

Although they are still struggling financially they have managed to spend €140 million this summer to bring in Raphinha from Leeds United, Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich and France international Jules Kounde from Sevilla.

Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie also both arrived to the Camp Nou this summer on free transfers from Chelsea and AC Milan respectively.

Barcelona are also still hoping to secure the services of two other Chelsea players, defensive duo Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta.

While they have brought in several players, the club reportedly owes significant sums to Frenkie de Jong and Gerard Pique. It is believed that de Jong is owed €17 million and despite being linked with a move to Man United this season is reluctant to go until he gets paid. Gary Neville gave his opinion on de Jong's situation:

De Jong should consider legal action v Barcelona and all players should be behind him!A club spending fortunes on new players whilst not paying the ones they have under contract their full money is immoral and a breach. @FIFPRO should be all over bullying like this and stop it.

— Gary Neville (@GNev2) July 25, 2022

Pique is reportedly owed €40 million by Barcelona, with the club hoping to offload him before he retires.

The financial struggles make it even more remarkable that Barcelona's wage bill is so high, with the club expected to spend close to €260 million on wages in the coming season.