Barcelona’s richest player Martin Braithwaite is refusing to leave Catalunya unless the La Liga giants fork out his £5m-a-year wages in full.
The Danish international, 31, is currently on an eye-watering £98k-a-week deal at Barcelona but the club are desperate to trim their wage bill to aid their ruinous economic situation. And despite splashing out mega-money fees for Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha in the transfer market, La Blaugrana are still barely treading above water in terms of their finances.
Spanish outlet SPORT report Braithwaite is the latest Barca star to be asked to take a cut in salary so that they are able to register their new signings.
La Blaugrana are also keen to ship on their fringe players before La Liga’s August 13 deadline, Braithwaite is deemed surplus to requirements by boss Xavi, but the former Middlesbrough flop is refusing to leave the Camp Nou this summer.
With two years still remaining on his bumper deal, the Dane is demanding Barca honour his £5m-a-year salary in full should they decide to terminate his contract early – though Braithwaite is hardly strapped for cash.
The former Leganes forward boasts an impressive portfolio of investments within the real estate, fashion and dining industries and, according to Forbes, only Lionel Messi topped his salary at Barcelona in 2020.
After the seven-time Ballon d’Or winners’ shock exit in 2021, Braithwaite is now comfortably the richest Blaugrana player. The bulk of his immense wealth is rooted within an $850,000 (£714,298) investment into the real estate business NYCE, which he is a partner of, alongside uncle Phillip Michael.
NYCE’s website boasts approximately £252million in assets under management, including a real estate portfolio believed to be worth around £210m. However, this is far from his main source of income.
Braithwaite co-owns clothing business ‘Trente’ alongside French entrepreneur, journalist and TV personality Anne-Leure Louis. Barcelona restaurant ‘Gave’ is also owned by the Danish striker.
