Jonathan Barnett, whose client is Real Madrid star Gareth Bale, believes that players should not pay the price drop after the Covid-19 crisis.
Barnett – Footballers’ salaries should not drop
Players’ salaries should not fall because of the coronavirus pandemic and onus in on clubs to run better for themselves, agent Jonathan Barnett says. Barnett, whose client is Real Madrid star Gareth Bale, believes that players should not pay the price drop after the Covid-19 crisis. The future values of sponsorship, match proceeds, and television deals are uncertain after the global lockdown has stopped all top-level sports. Still, Barnett believes that players who have a short career are stellar attractions to keep football top billing. “I don’t see the salaries of players falling, that is, for sure,” he told reporters. “Most of the players are on contracts. What I see is that maybe the clubs have to look at how they manage their club a little better.
No one comes to see how the CEO plays
“Fans come to see how players play, and no one comes to see how the CEO plays. That players are what puts money on the table. It’s not about players earning less because earning their money is a short time.” Barnett was asked if the days of the enormous transfer fees are over, and although he acknowledged that there would be an initial drop, he felt that it was unlikely to last. “I think there will be a drop in the short term, but not in the long term,” he said. “They will return. Market values will return. On the way, clubs should take it, Barnett added: “You have to look at it reasonably and say: “This year I can’t afford to pay so that I won’t do it this year. Act wisely and pay what they can afford to pay.”
“If they cannot afford to buy, then no. No one will force them. They can offer the player any money they can afford. If that’s right for the player, then that’s fine. After the next television deal, they hopefully will be in a better position, or as soon as the fans start coming back, they may be back in a better position to do this. Then their sponsors rise, and all these things come back.”