Cesc Fabregas Offers to Defer Entire Monaco Salary to Help in Coronavirus Crisis

Cesc Fabregas has offered to defer the entirety of his Monaco salary, as well as taking a 30% pay-cut, to help the club weather the coronavirus crisis.

Top level footballers around the world have been called upon to give up a percentage of their wages in order to help clubs pay non-playing staff. There has been some resistance in the UK, however, with reports of concerns in some players, including Arsenal's Mesut Ozil, about how the saved revenue would be used.

In order to help Monaco steer clear of the cost-cutting furlough measures, which were announced by Liverpool and Tottenham before each club U-turned in the midst of widespread public criticism, The Telegraph report that Fabregas has decided to give up his entire salary for the next four months, which would help the club save up to £2m.

He has agreed to take a 30% cut on the deferred wages, meaning the 32-year-old is permanently giving up more than £500,000 of his salary.

Fabregas' 95-year-old grandmother is currently suffering from the virus, but speaking to the Telegraph following his decision, the former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea star says she is keeping her spirits up.

“She’s 95 and the poor woman has unfortunately got coronavirus," he said.

“There were a lot of people in her home who didn’t have it and we wanted to get them to a hotel. We tested them all again and 70 or 80% came back positive, including my great-grandmother.”

“We had a video call with her and she looked ok and in a good mood. The worst thing is not being able to be with her and give her a hug. I hope she gets through this, but we know it’s going to be difficult.”

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