Lionel Messi hit out at the Barcelona board after players officially agreed to take a 70% pay cut, saying he wasn't surprised that the higher ups would pressure the players through the media to do something they had already planned on.

"We want to clarify that our desire has always been for a reduction to be applied to our salaries because we understand that this is an exceptional situation and we are the first that have ALWAYS helped the club with what they have asked of us," released Messi in a statement.

"It doesn't cease to surprise us that from inside the club there would be people that want to put us under a magnifying glass or try to pressure us into something that we were always clear we wanted to do. In fact, if the agreement has dragged on, it's because we were looking for a formula to help the club and its workers in these difficult times.

"For our part, the moment has arrived to announce that, aside from the 70% wage cut during the State of Emergency, we are going to also make contributions so that all the club's employees can earn 100% of their salaries for as long as this situation lasts," wrote Messi.

The wage cut, which affects all sports across Barcelona, ensures that the club's staff will be paid their full wages.

Barcelona are owned by its members, with no outside investments, leading to fears that a stoppage in play could have severe repercussions within the club.