Puyol agrees to pay cut

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has agreed to a reduction in his basic salary.

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has agreed to restructure his contract and accept a reduction in his basic salary.

Barca president Joan Laporta has been attempting to reduce the club's debts since assuming control last summer.

Renegotiating players' contracts has been one of his priorities although inevitably it has caused some disquiet.

Puyol, along with others like Javier Saviola and Gerard, signed a lucrative deal under the former regime - sanctioned by previous president Joan Gaspart - and Laporta insists the contracts were unsustainable.

However, attempts to try and reduce those salaries have caused friction, and in the case of Saviola it has even led to rumours the club would be willing to offload him if he does not agree to renegotiate.

However, after Puyol's example, Laporta will be hoping other squad members will now follow suit.