Memphis Depay agreed to a 30% salary reduction - report

Memphis Depay is an FC Barcelona player today in part due to agreeing to sign for a lower salary than what was first offered, according to the latest report.

The Catalans are in the middle of an economic crisis and are forced to cut costs wherever possible.

He was signed on a free transfer from Olympique Lyonnais, and initially quoted a net salary of 7 million euro. Depay agreed, with the hope of playing under his former national team boss Ronald Koeman, and to join a super club once again after leaving Manchester United in an inauspicious way.

However, when it came close to the time at which the player was to put pen to paper, Barcelona said they could not offer him more than 5 million.

This new offer represented around a 30% salary reduction.

A similar thing happened to Eric Garcia. He had agreed a higher salary in January when a transfer from Manchester City was rumored. He was ultimately signed on a free transfer at the beginning of the summer. He also had to accept a lower salary.

Barcelona continue trying to shed some of their high paid players who rarely make an impact, while veteran players such as Sergio Busquets are said to be taking pay cuts.