Lionel Messi has confirmed that the full Barcelona squad will take a 70 per cent pay cut due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The players will also make contributions to guarantee that staff at the club will continue to earn their full wage.

The 32 year-old striker announced the news on social media and wrote: "The time has come to announce that, as well as the 70% reduction in our salaries during the state of alarm, we are going to make contributions too so that club employees can receive 100% of their salaries while this situation lasts.

"Our desire has always been to take a pay cut, because we understand perfectly that this is an exceptional situation."

But he has attacked the club for putting its players 'under the magnifying glass' and has hit out at their delayed announcement. 

It comes after reports the players had rejected the 70 per cent pay cut and were only willing to accept 50 per cent.

But Messi added: "It never ceases to amaze us that from within the club there were some who tried to put us under the magnifying glass and tried to add pressure for us to do something that we always knew we would do.

"In fact, if the agreement has been delayed for a few days, it is simply because we were looking for a formula to help the club and also its workers in these difficult times."