Former world footballer of the year,
Cristiano Ronaldo, the coach of Juventus, Maurizio Sarri, and other members of the Italian football giant have agreed on a pay cut for the next four months amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Recall that the Italian Serie A, like every other major league across the world, has been suspended since March 10, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Also, recall that Italy has become the worst-hit country as far as the COVID-19 pandemic is concerned. So far, over 10, 000 people have been confirmed killed by the dreaded virus as at Saturday, March 28, 2020.
Juventus as a football club in Italy has been having its share of the pandemic. Three players in the club – Daniele Rugani, Blaise Matuidi and Paulo Dybala, tested positive for the COVID-19. They are, however, recovering from the deadly infection.
Hence, to ease Juventus of the financial burden that comes with the suspension of the league and other strict measures taken by the Italian government to curb the spread of the virus, members of the team have accepted to sacrifice a part of their wages.
The wage cut agreed upon would earn Juventus about 90m euros (£80.7m) which would help the club to continue running until the league returns. The pay cut would start at the end of March and ends in June.
Juventus will renegotiate with the players after COVID-19
A statement released by the club to this effect read: “Juventus Football Club S.p.A. announces that due to the current global health emergency is preventing the performance of the sporting activity, it has reached an understanding with the players and the coach of the First Team regarding their compensation for the residual portion of the current sport season,” the statement read.
“The understanding provides for the reduction of the compensation for an amount equal to the monthly payments of March, April, May and June 2020. In the coming weeks, personal agreements with the players and the coach will be finalised, as required by the current regulations.
“The economic and financial effects of the understanding reached are positive for about EUR 90 million for the 2019/2020 financial year.
“Should the current season’s matches be rescheduled, the Club will negotiate in good faith with the players and the coach conditional increases of compensations according to the actual resumption and finalisation of official competitions.
“Juventus would like to thank the players and the coach for their commitment at a difficult time for everyone.”
