File photo of Samuel Umtiti.
Highlight
- Torres was introduced last week, but was not added to the squad.
- Barcelona couldn’t make up for it without violating La Liga’s strict financial fair play rules
- The Catalan club said it has reached an agreement with Umti to extend its contract until 2026
French defender Samuel Umtiti took a pay cut with his new contract extension with Barcelona, allowing the club to register and fit Ferran Torres into the club’s shrinking salary bill structure.
Torres was introduced last week but was not added to the squad as Barcelona could not make a place for him without violating the Spanish league’s strict financial fair play rules.
The Catalan club said it had reached an agreement with Umtiti to extend his contract until 2026, reducing the French defender’s part of the salary he receives for the remaining year and a half on his contract.
“Through this contract extension, Barcelona will be able to increase their ‘financial fair play’ quota and thereby register Torres with the Spanish league,” the club said.
Barcelona paid an initial fee of 55 million euros ($62 million) to sign Torres from Manchester City. The 21-year-old Spain forward signed a five-year deal with the Spanish club with a 1 billion euro ($1.1 billion) buyout clause.
Team captains Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto took pay cuts last year to help the financially troubled club. Lionel Messi had agreed to a 50% pay cut, but that was not enough for the club to be able to keep him, leading to his move to Paris Saint-Germain.
“Barcelona would like to publicly express our gratitude to Samuel Umeti for his willingness and affection for the club,” Barcelona said.
Torres has not played since October due to a leg injury sustained while on international duty with Spain. He was among Barcelona players who recently tested positive for the coronavirus and will not travel to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup. The Catalan club will play Real Madrid in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
(reported by AP)
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