One of Xavi's key men: "Would I take a wage cut for Barça? I won't talk about it"
Despite spending big amounts on new players, the Catalan giants still ask players to make the economic sacrifice, but this starter won't commit to it just yet
Marc Andre ter Stegen has been a key performer for Barcelona, but he's not sure he'd make the big sacrifices for the club. The Catalan giants have seen better moments since the German goalkeeper joined them nearly 10 years ago in 2014; the economics of the club continue to be a talking point, but Ter Stegen wasn't keen to get to it when it was suggested whether he'd take a pay cut.
With over 300 appearances, four LaLiga titles, five Copa del Rey wins and a Champions League victory, it's clear that Ter Stegen is a big name in the last era of Barcelona, but he hesitated to answer when asked if he'd make an economic sacrifice for the club, like it's been asked of the likes of Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
"If they asked me for a salary reduction from Barça? Well I guess it's not the time to talk about it now", answered the German in an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca, while quickly shifting the focus to another topic: "We are going to need everyone in the best conditions to be able to face what remains until the World Cup".
"Summer has been very good for me, I could relax myself and let go of everything I had... I needed it. So I have been able to start well, I think I am in good condition, we have started well at Barça and I only hope that no one else gets injured", added the German goalkeeper, who's currently leading the competiton for the Zamora prize to the best goalkeeper in LaLiga, having received only one goal in six games played.
Barcelona tried in August to get the captains to lower their wages once again, but they were unsuccessful. Others who were asked the same was Marc Andre ter Stegen himself or Miralem Pjanic, who ended up leaving. Undoubtedly, it would have been a hard sell for club president Joan Laporta and the rest of the board to convince players of lowering their income while the club was spending big amounts in new players.