The covid-19 pandemic has caused unforeseen problems in the football world. The small and the big are suffering – everyone in their own way. While the small clubs are struggling more than ever, the biggest clubs in Spain have hit the wall of the salary cap. It’s calculated from the difference between the income and the repayment of the debt expected throughout the season.After Real Madrid’s wage bill reduction by La Liga some of the possible outgoings this window will be Raphael Varane, Isco Alarcon and Martin Ødegaard.— Football Off-Target (@FootyOffTarget) July 14, 2021 These new La Liga rules, combined with crippling lack of matchday revenue and ticket sale income, led to clubs’ wage limits going down significantly. And so, the problems are starting to pile up for the ones who have spent lavishly in the past.Take Real Madrid’s case into consideration. While most of the media attention has been put on the financial woes of Barcelona and their inability to comply with La Liga rules to register new players, Acording to reports from The Athletic, Barca’s biggest rivals Real Madrid have been doing only slightly better in that aspect.💰 Real managed finances far better than Barcelona during pandemic💶 But La Liga will still reduce their wage budget🚪 Some high earners must leave – Varane, Isco, Odegaard among those available🇫🇷 Still hope to sign Mbappe but highly unlikely this summer✍️ @dermotmcorrigan— The Athletic UK (@TheAthleticUK) July 14, 2021 Real Madrid president Florentino Perez raised around $120 million by unsentimentally cashing in on up-and-coming young talents like Achraf Hakimi, Sergio Reguilon and Oscar Rodriguez. They also lowered their wage bill by sending Gareth Bale back to Tottenham on loan and allowing James Rodriguez to join Everton on a free transfer. In January, they cut costs again by loaning out two more little-used squad players in Martin Odegaard and Luka Jovic.Those transfers gave the Madrid club some breathing space, but it wasn’t enough. In order to comply with all the rules before the start of the next campaign, their wage bill has to be reduced from 550 to 350 million dollars. That’s a $200 million difference that has to be rectified by getting rid of unneeded players.We have a deal! Five-year contract, half of the so-far-salary and 415 million USD clause to continue the Messi-Barca love storyAs a result, it is said to be Real Madrid’s ‘primary objective’ this summer to reduce a first-team squad that currently houses 35 players. That is too many players for returning boss Carlo Ancelotti to manage and keep happy anyway.Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard reportedly consume 13 per cent of Madrid’s salary budget between them, but given the strain on the market, it remains unclear if either can be sold. The Welshman is out of contract in 12 months, while Hazard, signed for $126.5 million in 2019, is under contract until 2024.Isco, who was disregarded by former boss Zinedine Zidane, as well as Martin Odegaard and Dani Ceballos, both returning from loan spells with Arsenal, also face uncertain futures.Sergio Ramos has already gone, and the same could happen soon with Raphael Varane, who’s been linked with a move to Manchester United for months.Florentino labels Ronaldo and Mourinho as ‘idiots’ in a 2012 audio – to top off verbal attacks he made towards two club legends 24 hours priorThe failure to start the European Super League project has left Real Madrid in a problematic situation, but it’s nothing they haven’t brought onto themselves. Buying expensive players and handing them unrealistically high wages – without even giving them playing time – is finally catching up with them.We’ll be looking at the two biggest Spanish clubs trying desperately to attract suitors for some of their flops. The time is ticking!
