9.5 year new deal for Haaland, no escape clause, could be a bit of a risk for both if things turn sour, or injuries increase. Not seen the pay yet, doubt it will be less than 300 grand a week plus performance bonusses.
Not sure if true but someone posted it was worth up to £850k a week with bonuses. Don't believe that myself.
They must be confident that nothing is going to come of the charges.
I think we do tend to have heavily incentivised contracts rather than higher baseline wages, so if he is scoring 35+ goals every season and city are getting to the late stages of every competition, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets over 500k a week.
Maybe 50+ goals and winning a treble could take it to 850k, that isn't a realistic average but is achievable some some years.
The money is beyond silly, everyone knows it, even us city fans know it and wish it was different really.
9.5 year contract seems mad when you consider the injury risk (I know he rarely has been injured) as he’s played a lot of top level football from a young age, compared to some of his peers. He’s also not hit his usual standards for a few months now, albeit in tandem with the overall team decline. I guess these oil dudes have deep pockets!
Are you suggesting he might ‘do a Rashford’? One stellar season where you’re banging then in for fun, sign long contract on £350 grand a week, kick back, feet up and concentrate on your social media
I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets over 500k a week.
I would have thought so. The highest paid players outside of Saudi seem to be on around 500k a week. Kevin De Bruyne has allegedly been on 385k since 2021. So 500k must be plausible for Haaland.
Madness.
Madness.
Agreed. I have no other words.
Sky reporting its 400k a week.
Four. Hundred. Grand. (to goal hang)
If you want the very definition of madness, Neymar is on £100 million a year in Saudi. Due to a hamstring injury, he’s only played 42 minutes of football this season with 2 appearances off the bench.
And Ronaldo about double that, though at least he's played a little bit of football for it. Obscene
The thing is with footballers though, we can see what they do for their money every week, and we can judge them for it. They are not bribing and influencing politics to twist the world even further in their favour, they are not crushing workers rights and squeezing every ounce of blood from society for their profit, they are not Musk and Bezos etc
A lot of the top players in the PL currently actually seem like decent people, Haaland, Salah, De Bruyne, Saka etc so while the money is absolute madness I find it hard to blame them for it, unlike the world of business and oligarchs where being an evil bastard seems to be encouraged, worshiped and rewarded. Footballer salaries are a bit of a distraction to the real problems.
Still way way too much though.
The Athletic are reporting Re: Man City punishment: "with a verdict expected to be reached in March, but City have always been confident and some with knowledge of the situation, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, think that the sanction City face will not be more serious than a fine."
I think that if Man City suffered a massive points deduction, it would open a pandoras box of Clubs claiming losses for missed CL etc. That's why they won't do it IMO.
Regarding footballer's wages, it's a complete meritocracy. Nearly ever single male has played football at some point in their lives and only a tiny percentage make some kind of living from it and even less make the huge money.
Just a thought regarding footballers wages - a footballer is an asset to a club, the top ones are paid insanely well. However if I was an asset to my employer that mean they sold merch on my name on & sponsorship deals for my employer to come rolling in then I would very much want a significant piece of that pie.
Regarding footballer’s wages, it’s a complete meritocracy
Absolutely! It’s one of the few fields in the world where the people doing all the work are appropriately paid for it, getting the lions share of the money
A lot of them are from pretty shitty backgrounds, hardly awash with opportunities. Love him or hate him, if you watch the Ronnie documentary, he was bought up in grinding poverty and saw football as his only way out. It was this that motivated to have the career he did. Fair play to him getting paid a squillion quid a week in Saudi
Harland's top level career will be coming to an end in 9.5 years. Even if you divide it by three to reflect 10 years Vs 30 years working life, it's still eye watering, but maybe not quite as much compared to top performers in other industries.
Absolutely! It’s one of the few fields in the world where the people doing all the work are appropriately paid for it, getting the lions share of the money
I've never begrudged the money pro footballers are paid. It's a short, brutal and ruthless career which can be over in a second. What I do think they should do though is put the majority of the money into a trust which is only available to a player following retirement. They can still live a millionaire lifestyle on 20k a week, and then when they retire they'll have 10s of millions to fund the rest of their lives and hopefully a bit more maturity and wisdom to spend it wisely rather than blowing it all on Ferraris and gambling.
Unfortunately I think Newcastle will lose today.
They were poor against Wolves and a half decent team would of punished them.
2-3 today.
'The thing is with footballers though, we can see what they do for their money every week, and we can judge them for it. They are not bribing and influencing politics to twist the world even further in their favour, they are not crushing workers rights and squeezing every ounce of blood from society for their profit, they are not Musk and Bezos etc'
If you're playing in Saudi Arabia you are taking money to help make the above acceptable, or at least easier to look past. Simple as
Why are people surprised that men at the very peak of their profession, that is probably the job more people apply for than any other worldwide, are paid a huge amount?
It's gross but in a world where people worship absolute cheb ends like Musk and Zuck I find it hard to get too overexcited. At least Haaland isn't a little scaredy pants of Trump!
@gobuchul - serious lack of pace in the heart of your defence today. It's like watching two sequoia trees
They are absolutely awful.
Can't string 2 passes together.
Seems like it’s hatricks or nothing this week
When talking about what the players get paid, don’t forget the managers. I don’t know how much Maureen earned for actually doing his job, but here’s the tot-up of his pay offs for getting sacked. Nice work if you can get sacked from it!
Chelsea (1st time) - £18m
Real Madrid - £17m
Chelsea (2nd time) - £8.3m
Manchester United - £19.6m
Tottenham - £15m
Roma - £3m
Total: £80.9m.
Surely it’s the scousers title now? And if so, has their best player been Kai Havertz?
Agreed. Today the sporting gods voted, and Liverpool were chosen.
Is this the end for Big Ange?
Spurs were getting tipped for the title in November 2023.
I bloody hope so, he's been out of his depth for far too long. To be fair though whoever is responsible for recruitment at Spurs should be shot. How do the likes of Brighton and Bournemouth get it so right yet Spurs have no clue? Big changes needed and soon please.
Poor Spurs. Apparently their pet mouse, also called Ange, lives in the fluff and dust inside the Tottenham trophy cabinet. I say trophy cabinet, but it’s more like a cardboard box.
In his defence they’ve had horrendous injuries this season - Liverpool would be pretty different with Van Dijk and Konate and Arsenal with Saliba and Gabriel out for a sustained period. Saying that no one should ship three in a half v Everton!
But he keeps playing the same style of football which is absolutely suicidal given the players he's got. Hence being 3 down against Everton in 45 minutes. Thats more than they've scored so far this season, isn't it?
Meanwhile we're completing our now traditional 2nd home defeat to sides from the South Coast that begin with B.
We're going to be battling hard with Spurs for that 14th spot
They are absolutely awful.
Amazing how a team of elite professionals can go from destroying the likes of Villa and Man U to not being able to string two passes together.
I think the differences between a lot of the sides has really narrowed hence some odd looking results. They can all beat each other.
When’s Amorim off then? I’m going November 2025. No evidence yet the current squad are getting to grips with his genius formation that no one else seems to play, and recruitment looks like being hampered by pesky PSR rules and playing for a mid table side. I reckon he’ll go full ETH and try and sign his former players.
Hence being 3 down against Everton in 45 minutes. Thats more than they’ve scored so far this season, isn’t it?
This season and last. Plus Calvert Lewin scored. If your defence can let him locate the net and kick the ball in that general direction, then you really do have problem.
When’s Amorim off then? I’m going November 2025. No evidence yet the current squad are getting to grips with his genius formation that no one else seems to play, and recruitment looks like being hampered by pesky PSR rules and playing for a mid table side.
Amorim is screwed and he won’t be signing anyone.
He’s stuck with the squad of donkeys he’s got because having enormously overpaid for mediocre players, they’re all sat on long contracts on frankly crazy salaries. If he can’t offload them then there’s no money for new signings. And he can’t offload them.
Look at Antony. Apparently having paid £85 million for him, he’s being offered out to clubs around Europe at £20 million in this transfer window, but there are obviously no takers because he’s absolutely shite. Yet he’s sat on a 5 year contract on £200,000 a week.
That sums up perfectly where United are…. Absolutely ****ed! There’s no manager on earth could polish this particular assortment of ludicrously overpriced and overpaid turds.
Amorim will try, but it’s ultimately futile and and he’ll be sacked in a years time and the merry-go-round will continue with the next mug they line up
Nice to see the blue side of Manchester are returning to form....
Ipswich could get brutalised here as City march towards another title.
'Going down with United, you're going down with United' sing the City fans.
I put a couple of quid on 5-0 to Citeh at 26/1
Suppose I best cash out before the 6th goes in
Unusually for me, yes. Cashed out as soon as the 5th went in as the 6th was surely going to be right behind it, and sure enough it was
Ipswich could get brutalised here as City march towards another title.
The 5Live commentators loved saying they'd been checking the record books for our biggest defeat, but they didn't have to go far to find our 9 goal thrashings....
Was at Old Trafford yesterday and was a great day. Now we’re starting to get some of players back we’re starting to turn those draws into wins.
Have to say that Old Trafford is one of my favourite grounds to go to, that might be helped by the fact we’ve won the last 3 times we’ve been there. And seeing all the glum Man U supporters at the M25 services on their way back south is always a treat.
I have a feeling Amorin will be gone by the end of the season. If the current form continues... maybe by Easter.
Amorin is 33/1 to be the next manager sacked.
Big Ange is 4/11.
Amorim didn’t want the job until next season as he didn’t want to come in with no pre-season training, into a total shambles and be fire-fighting from the off, trying to introduce a new system at the busiest point in the season.
Sir Jim told him it was immediately or not at all. Yet more far-sighted strategic planning from those at the top and the next managers reputation lined up to be buried at the graveyard of careers that is Old Trafford
Amorims post-match statement that this is the worst squad in the history of the club is absolutely on the money (and there’s lots of money) but how that will go down in a dressing room who famously down tools for the manager when they have hurty feelings, is probably pretty predictable
Amorin is 33/1 to be the next manager sacked.
Big Ange is 4/11.
I'm going to stick a fiver on Amorin to go to spuds and Ange to Man U.
Amorims post-match statement that this is the worst squad in the history of the club
My God, did he really say that? Hahaha the fallout will be delicious.
From the Guardian….
Amorim pointed to his record since replacing Erik ten Hag in the autumn. “In 10 games in the Premier League, we won two. I know that. We are the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United,” he said. “I know you want headlines but I am saying that because we have to acknowledge that and to change that. Here you go: your headlines.
“Imagine what this is for a fan of Manchester United, imagine what this is for me. We are getting a new coach who is losing more than the last coach. I have full knowledge of that. I am not going to change [his 3-4-3 system], no matter what. I know we can succeed but we need to survive this moment. I am not naive. We need to survive now.”
He’s also saying that we’re in a relegation fight. You can’t really argue with his sentiments though, can you?
That squad has cost more to assemble than the present Liverpool City or Arsenal squad, which given the absolutely enormous gulf in quality is a truly staggering statement.
It’s the end result of over a decade of utter and complete ineptitude in the transfer market that seemed to involve picking names out of a hat, then asking their agents for a list of demands
Have you got any decent kids coming through? I'd be tempted to start pulling some of these wasters out of service, sending them on loan to Peterborough and start getting the younglings out there.
A sentiment a lot of us have expressed many, many times, but usually in a lot swearier manner
As an Albion fan I enjoyed Brightons demolishing of United yesterday! However, I was very disappointed in Binners subsequent rant! Subpar! 😉
Have you got any decent kids coming through? I’d be tempted to start pulling some of these wasters out of service, sending them on loan to Peterborough and start getting the younglings out there.
This is the thing you clearly see at city now, and with Sie Alex back in the day, if they think someone is disruptive to the team, they are out the door sharpish. No pissing around letting their attitudes poison the team, they are out of the team as quick as possible. The current united management (probably not the team manager) are too interested in getting an inflated price for every single player that they don't understand the devaluation of the squad keeping them causes.
If Walker was a united player and told them he wanted to move on, they would have demanded 30 million and kept him around stinking up the place, same with Cancelo a couple of years ago. Fergie did it with multiple players who were considered in their prime, but they started to get a bit disruptive and/or started to enjoy a bit of nose candy, and they were gone.
Like a parent talking to a child who’s just been sent home from school
again….
I’m not angry any more
I’m just disappointed
At the risk of crossing threads, Gaza hostage Emily is apparently a huge Spurs fan.
As if she hasn't been through enough.
but they started to get a bit disruptive and/or started to enjoy a bit of nose candy, and they were gone.
Its obvious who were disruptive, but ‘nose candy’? What were those rumours, as I’d be surprised if it’s true, as it’d be an automatic lengthy ban for them.
Aw don't get the football thread closed, it's all I have.
Let’s play nicely!
Some collapse last night by City, Nunes at right back, dearie me. Cheque book’s out for new players I see.
Enciso on loan to Ipswich is an intriguing one.
I wonder if Kyle Walker will be taking all his families with him to Italy?
The farce continues at United. We paid £85 million for Antony, he’s not played all season because he’s rubbish, he’s now off to Real Betis on loan, with no obligation to buy him and United will still be picking up the tab for the majority of his ludicrous £200,000 a week salary.
He has to be the worst signing in Premier League history, and that’s a pretty hotly contested mantle at Old Trafford
Enciso on loan to Ipswich is an intriguing one.
Before he got injured at the start of last season he was very good for us. Scored a couple of brilliant goals but his link up with Welbeck was very good. The game he got injured in away at Wolves he played very well got a couple of assists and was everywhere.
Since coming back from injury he’s had limited minutes because he’s got Pedro and now Georginio in front of him so when he has played he’s almost trying too hard trying to win games on his own, so hopefully a loan where he should get more playing time will help him settle down a bit. You probably will have to be patient with him though as no doubt he’ll be shooting at every opportunity for the first couple of games.
Well, this is awful, I'm a Manu fan tonight.
Two bang average sides. And that’s being generous.
Bang average? Mediocrity is something we can only dream of!
Thank the lord for keepers even worse than ours 😀
I’d take whatever clubs are offering (Chelsea, predictably) for Garnacho. His finishing is woeful! Not as good as he thinks he is.
Surely that applies to the full squad, with the possible exception of Bruno though? Nobody wants any of them, due to United’s utterly insane transfer pricing policy and wage structure
This is how you end up with crazy situations like the player we payed £70 million for presently being out on loan at Chelsea and the donkey we somehow ended up paying £85 million for now being out on loan in Spain, with United still paying most of his wages.
Rashford will be next. Before the transfer window closes he’ll be out on loan somewhere in Europe, with United still paying his wages.
Complete madness! I thought this new lot were meant to be successful businessmen? With these negotiation skills they’d be getting booted off The Appreciate in the first week
Not football, but appears Ratcliffe has also shat the bed with Ben Ainslie - ""astounded" by Ineos' future plans for the America's Cup and it "raises significant legal and practical obstacles for them".
Is there anything he's involved in that doesn't eventually turn to shite.
Eventually?
It’s only taken him 5 minutes at United for everyone to realise he’s as bad as the Glazers, if not worse. In fact he is worse, because you knew they couldn’t care less, but he came in giving it the big I am and ‘I love this club’ and all that bollocks.
Since then they’ve signed a bunch of overpriced donkeys, had a farcical change of managers, made a load of staff redundant, hiked the ticket prices and presided over the worst season in the clubs modern history, where we’re now looking over our shoulders at the relegation places
The Ineos honeymoon period has lasted for less time than Keir Starmers. We used to have one gang of ****s running the club, it appears we now have two. Happy days!
Liverpool picking up where Man City left off.....
Arsenal fans will be happy though. They love having an iffy reffing decision to whine endlessly about.
Pep's bought a good'un!!
4 mins into his debut and he's cost a goal with a short backpass, and then got booked (with a side order of potential DOGSO with that)
He looks like a rabbit in the headlights
He'll never forget that debut.
For a period I thought he was going to get hooked. He's actually made a couple of decent interventions since then. Poor kid's only 20, same age as my daughter - I can't imagine what it would be like to watch her have a mare in front of 50,000 people and a massive TV audience.
If he wasn't booked you'd have to keep him on for the second half.