Barcelona’s Martin Braithwaite demands salary increase to sign for La Liga club

Martin Braithwaite’s proposed move to RCD Mallorca is in danger of collapsing after the player reportedly asked for more salary than what he has been earning at Barcelona. 

According to Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo, the Danish international’s main preference is to remain at the Camp Nou. He still believes that he can be of use for manager Xavi, especially if fellow attackers Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Memphis Depay leave the club in the near future.

However, it is believed that Barcelona are desperate for Braithwaite to leave the club so that the Catalan giants can balance the books amid their well documented financial troubles. 

At this moment in time, the club that have shown the most interest in the Dane is Mallorca, but they are beginning to be put off by the huge salary demands made by the striker. 

It is understood that Braithwaite has to play regularly this season if he is to make the Denmark squad for the upcoming World Cup, which gets underway in Qatar later on in the year. 

In order for him to get more opportunities to impress on the pitch, it is clear that he has to lower his demands. 

It has been reported that Xavi deems Braithwaite as surplus to requirements, this was evident when the Spaniard left him out of the travelling squad for the club’s pre season tour in the United States. 

However, the ball is firmly in Braithwaite’s court as he has a contract at the Camp Nou that runs until the summer of 2024. 

A meeting is expected to occur between Braithwaite and Mallorca manager Javier Aguirre, who coached Braithwaite at Leganes between November of 2019 and February of 2020. 

Despite their ongoing issues financially, it has been another summer of big spending for Barcelona. 

To date, they have completed the signings of Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde. 

With reports that Xavi is yet to be satisfied with his squad and is aiming to add more players before the end of the transfer window. 

The main objective for the club now is to offload players, the Catalan club have been trying to sell Frenkie de Jong but have been left frustrated by the player’s desire to stay put. 

The 25-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United and it remains to be seen whether he will make the move to England before the transfer window slams shut.