Real Madrid believe pay cuts for their highest earners will become ‘inevitable’ as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

Club president Barcelona Florentino Perez and captain Sergio Ramos had previously agreed salaries would not be touched despite the financial implications of a prolonged break from the game.

But with Madrid covering the wages of over 800 different people across all of its teams, it is now likely those with the biggest incomes will see a reduction in their wages, according to El Pais.

Barcelona have already taken these steps with Lionel Messi announcing he and his team-mates would take a 70% pay cut.

Other La Liga clubs including Atletico Madrid and Espanyol have implemented similar measures.

However, Real’s economic strength is said to be more flexible with a debt of just £24million in comparison to Barca’s which is thought to be around £193million.

Real’s wage budget is less than 50% of their income whereas Barcelona’s is reported to be closer to 80% which explains the different approach the two clubs have taken.

Unlike other teams, Real have decided not to apply an ERTE – Spain’s temporary redundancy scheme, which is activated by the state of emergency in the country, with businesses losing profits.

This is something Atletico have employed, as reported by El Mundo, in a bid to reduce costs and ensure the club’s survival.

Espanyol released a statement confirming all players, coaches and physios of their men’s, women’s youth teams would take a 70% pay cut.

Spain are 16 days into a 30-day lockdown with only Italy suffering more deaths from coronavirus.