Newcastle loanee Valentino Lazaro has slammed the Premier League and club executives over their plan to introduce blanket 30 per cent cuts to players' wages amid the coronavirus crisis.
At a meeting involving all 20 top-flight clubs at the start of April, it was initially agreed that stars would be asked to cut their wages by 30 per cent, but the plan was rejected by the players and since then, individual agreements have been sought.
Lazaro, who is on loan at Newcastle from Inter Milan, has now hit out at the league and says he felt 'blackmailed' by their proposals.
'The clubs approached us without any conditions and demanded 30 per cent, he told German outlet BILD. 'Two days later we were already pilloried by the league. It came out of nowhere, it felt like I had a gun to my chest.
'This is not fair communication. Everyone wants to do something social, but then please for the right purpose. We prefer to give our money directly to local shops, facilities and hospitals and do something good.
'The lack of money for club employees should be borne by the clubs, from our player perspective. We Newcastle players provide part of our weekly salaries. Players from other clubs do this too.
'One should also not forget that the taxes on high professional salaries are important for the English health system.'
Aside from the current coronavirus pandemic, Lazaro was also asked what the future holds for him when his loan spell in the north east comes to an end.
'It's no secret that I met Leipzig's Julian Nagelsmann and Markus Krosche before I was loaned to Newcastle,' he admitted. 'I like their philosophy very much, at that time I cancelled with a heavy heart.
'I wanted to play in England once and Newcastle looked very good. Who knows what happens in summer. I still have a four-year contract with Inter.'