Who would turn down the money?

Bounty Hunter

Players kiss their clubs badges and talk of their allegiance to the cause but who do you think would actually turn down earning rediculous money for these reasons?

Okay i'd give you some of the players playing outside of the EPL like Xavi/Messi etc but would Van Persie turn down 300k a week from City? Or say if it was Ibrahimavic or even a younger star like Mata or Hazard?

Who are the players that in you opinion would stay loyal no matter what was offered? Would Kaka have still turned down City if they had been at this stage of their development when they wanted him? We saw recently with Rooneys contract saga it can be all about the money sometimes, If it wasnt City able to bankroll a move or if they had offered him something mad like 1m a week would he still be a united player atm?

Matt Le Tissier is one from the past who seemed to always pass on the notion of moving (and running for any sustained period of time) but are there many out there today for whom it is not a job first and foremost, people who would want to be at their clubs no matter what was thrown at them.

CSF

Money is a factor for every footballer but I don't believe it is the only factor or the number one factor for every footballer.

If you're earning 200k a week at Real and absolutely loving it, than 300k at City isn't necessarily that appealing. If you're earning 2 grand a week at Exeter and get offered 3 grand a week at Bristol Rovers, quite a bit different. If you're earning 200 euro a week at Bray Wanderers and get offered 300 euro a week at Dundalk, then it is very hard to say no.

Money means different things to different people and it usually depends on how much money one person has already.

Kylo Ren

Scholes, Gerrard, Carragher, Giggs spring to mind straight away. Although its impossible to say for sure for any player.

Dotrel

I personally don't believe in club loyalty. I just raise my eyes when I see badge kissers as I know deep down they're generally of the same mindset as me. I'd imagine that genuine loyal players don't really have to resort to that kind of pandering. However that said I'd be more interested in surrounding myself with players who were going to help me win trophies and become the best player I could be than just going after the money, but again that it to suit my own interest rather than out of loyalty to a particular club. If my career was winding down then I'd definitely look for the big pay-day if it was offered.

kippy

When you think of being a football player and changing "job" moving from one company to another you could easily see their position by comparing it to the position you yourself are in when you move jobs.
I don't think company "Loyalty" comes into it, perhaps it might but that's down to the individual. Money is major factor for some not for others.
Overwhelmingly however I believe location and family are the biggest factors for players in those situations.
Some players don't want to uproot their families every few years unless the financial and stature gain are big.

Personally ten years ago work was about the money and the career, now location and family life come into it a lot more, although the money obviously helps.

SantryRed

Keno 92 wrote: »

Scholes, Gerrard, Carragher, Giggs spring to mind straight away. Although its impossible to say for sure for any player.

All of these were getting colossal wages anyways, same with Xavi and Iniesta at Barca.

CSF

kippy wrote: »

When you think of being a football player and changing "job" moving from one company to another you could easily see their position by comparing it to the position you yourself are in when you move jobs.
I don't think company "Loyalty" comes into it, perhaps it might but that's down to the individual. Money is major factor for some not for others.
Overwhelmingly however I believe location and family are the biggest factors for players in those situations.
Some players don't want to uproot their families every few years unless the financial and stature gain are big.

Personally ten years ago work was about the money and the career, now location and family life come into it a lot more, although the money obviously helps.

You can't compare a football club with thousands of people worshipping you, to an ordinary company though. Comparing yourself in your career to a footballer's career doesn't really make for an accurate summary of events.

Dotrel

CSF wrote: »

You can't compare a football club with thousands of people worshipping you,

Do most players really care about that tho? I know they have to appear to, but genuinely?

everdead.ie

Ya I have to say I don't think that when you get to a certain level the money makes that big of a difference I think once your up to the top level it's about winning trophies as much as anything.
Very easy to stay loyal to a club when you are earning 50/60k a week and winning a trophy every year.

CSF

Dotrel wrote: »

Do most players really care about that tho? I know they have to appear to, but genuinely?

Not all do, but plenty would. I know I would. Most of these players were fans at one point with heroes of their own. Everyone likes to be appreciated.

the untitled user

The other thing to remember is that just because a high profile footballer might be earning ****tons of money doesn't mean he's any better with it than you're average joe soap, indeed he's more likely to be worse. Many older professionals talk about how they regret having spent it all as quick as it came in.

Secondly the lifestyle they lead also means it's not unusual to see them rake up loads of debt. Be it gambling, houses, hangers on, dubious 'investments' etc. Quite a few professional footballers have been on the record saying the only reason they moved was so they could get a signing on fee to pay off some debt. Michael Chopra being one for example.

Blatter

CSF wrote: »

You can't compare a football club with thousands of people worshipping you, to an ordinary company though. Comparing yourself in your career to a footballer's career doesn't really make for an accurate summary of events.

I agree, it's too simplistic to compare the job of a top flight footballer to any other given job.

However, the expression 'much wants more' usually does comes true and if somebody is on £100k/week, it would be very difficult for them to turn down a club offering them £250k/week. If a CEO is on £10m a year and is offered £15m a year elsewhere, they are more than likely going to take it. It's natural for most people to want to be the paid more in their profession, but granted, it means more to some than to others.

The other thing that has to be taken into consideration with regards a football player is that their career spans(where they have the potential to make mega bucks) is very short and obviously that is often in the minds of footballers when making decisions on their futures.

kippy

CSF wrote: »

You can't compare a football club with thousands of people worshipping you, to an ordinary company though. Comparing yourself in your career to a footballer's career doesn't really make for an accurate summary of events.

I am not comparing myself to a footballer. I am comparing the factors that influence my decisions in the roles I look for/take versus there's and making the points that they are very similiar and what is important to one individual may not be important to others.
Only some people would care about "thousands of people worshipping you", others, it could be a big factor.
Granted, its one factor thats not relevant to the ordinary Joe Soap job but it can be equated to the way other management and staff treat you in your workplace.

Crazy Horse 6

How much is enough thats the question is'nt it. I think a lot of it stems from agents tbh. Anybody can make a dream living on 50,000 grand a week. A ten year career on that sort of money equals 26 million but yet some are greedy and want more. It's human nature i suppose. Heard from someone that Glen Whelan was on that sort of money but i'm sure if he was offered 75,000 a week he'd be off like a flash.

kippy

Blatter wrote: »

I agree, it's too simplistic to compare the job of a top flight footballer to any other given job.

However, the expression 'much wants more' usually does comes true and if somebody is on £100k/week, it would be very difficult for them to turn down a club offering them £250k/week. If a CEO is on £10m a year and is offered £15m a year elsewhere, they are more than likely going to take it. It's natural for most people to want to be the paid more in their profession, but granted, it means more to some than to others.

The other thing that has to be taken into consideration with regards a football player is that their career spans(where they have the potential to make mega bucks) is very short and obviously that is often in the minds of footballers when making decisions on their futures.

Family life, your wife/girlfriend/kids and their lives are very important to a lot of people in those situations. It's not all about the money. There are other issues such as being able to settle in an area/home sickness etc that are all very relevant across ANY profession.

Dotrel

Crazy Horse 6 wrote: »

How much is enough thats the question is'nt it. I think a lot of it stems from agents tbh. Anybody can make a dream living on 50,000 grand a week. A ten year career on that sort of money equals 26 million but yet some are greedy and want more. It's human nature i suppose. Heard from someone that Glen Whelan was on that sort of money but i'm sure if he was offered 75,000 a week he'd be off like a flash.

Christ there's something deeply wrong with the game if Glenn Whelan comes out of it with even 26million. :pac:

Blatter

kippy wrote: »

Family life, your wife/girlfriend/kids and their lives are very important to a lot of people in those situations. It's not all about the money. There are other issues such as being able to settle in an area/home sickness etc that are all very relevant across ANY profession.

Yep, very true.

Charisteas

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

would Van Persie turn down 300k a week from City?

Van Persie loves Arsenal. However I don't think he would turn down Manchester City even if they offered him the same salary as he earns at Arsenal.

He'll be 29 next summer, and doesn't have more than a single FA Cup medal to his name yet, and it doesn't look like Arsenal are going to win anything more than the FA Cup anytime soon.

As a kid -

PARKHEAD67

Paul McStay stayed at Celtic when he was getting ridiculous offers from English teams.I believe Liverpool were sniffing about.This was when Celtic were in the doldrums.Unbelievable loyalty.He was a sublime footballer by the way.Even rangers fans will admit this.

fullstop

Robbie Keane at Galaxy

SantryRed

Top notch contribution.

Brendan97

Keno 92 wrote: »

Scholes, Gerrard, Carragher, Giggs spring to mind straight away. Although its impossible to say for sure for any player.

the player who handed in a transfer request to allow a move to chelsea when he was younger only for the move to break down. (although i don't think any amount of money would uproot him now he is liverpool through and through

curry-muff

Brendan97 wrote: »

the player who handed in a transfer request to allow a move to chelsea when he was younger only for the move to break down. (although i don't think any amount of money would uproot him now he is liverpool through and through

Glad someone spotted this :pac:

ctrl-alt-delete

I'd choose the money every time,

sure when you retire you can always spend your extra millions on other peoples medals.

redzerdrog

Brendan97 wrote: »

the player who handed in a transfer request to allow a move to chelsea when he was younger only for the move to break down. (although i don't think any amount of money would uproot him now he is liverpool through and through

eh the move didnt break down, Gerrard had a change of heart

tolosenc

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

Okay i'd give you some of the players playing outside of the EPL like Xavi/Messi

Because those guys are on minimum wage...

Bowlardo

Keno 92 wrote: »

Scholes, Gerrard, Carragher, Giggs spring to mind straight away. Although its impossible to say for sure for any player.

No one has ever tried to buy carragher

PARKHEAD67

redzerdrog wrote: »

eh the move didnt break down, Gerrard had a change of heart

I believe there was some intimidation involved in changing his heart.From less than savoury characters....;)

3hn2givr7mx1sc

Gary Neville came to find first, don't think he was ever on huge wages either in the context of the EPL.

PARKHEAD67

Bowlardo wrote: »

No one has ever tried to buy carragher

If Everton made a bid early in his career he'd have hopped to Goodison.Carra was a Blue.;)

flahavaj

Keno 92 wrote: »

Scholes, Gerrard, Carragher, Giggs spring to mind straight away. Although its impossible to say for sure for any player.

With the greatest respect to the likes of Scholes and Giggs they won everything that could be won in the game in their careers at United its not as if staying loyal would be that much of a push.

The career that I'd most like to have had isn't one like Giggs or Scholes where I stayed at United all my life (even though i support them). Obviously from a footballing perspective it'd be a very satisfying career, littered with trophies etc. But from a personal life point of view I'd have liked to broaden my horizons a litle more. I'd love to have lived on the continent for a few years and learned the language and immersed myself in the culture.

Given a choice between say the way Beckham did it - getting to live in Madrid, Milan, Los Angeles and now seemiongly Paris, and the way Scholes did it, living all my life in dreary Manchester, I'd take Beckham's route any day of the week. Life is about more than on pitch success.

PARKHEAD67

flahavaj wrote: »

With the greatest respect to the likes of Scholes and Giggs they won everything that could be won in the game in their careers at United its not as if staying loyal would be that much of a push.

The career that I'd most like to have had isn't one like Giggs or Scholes where I stayed at United all my life (even though i support them). Obviously from a footballing perspective it'd be a very satisfying career, littered with trophies etc. But from a personal life point of view I'd have liked to broaden my horizons a litle more. I'd love to have lived on the continent for a few years and learned the language and immersed myself in the culture.

Given a choice between say the way Beckham did it - getting to live in Madrid, Milan, Los Angeles and now seemiongly Paris, and the way Scholes did it, living all my life in dreary Manchester, I'd take Beckham's route any day of the week. Life is about more than on pitch success.

Im sure Scholes has a lovely pad on the outskirts of Manchester.He can holiday in Madrid,Milan etc till the day he drops.He can surely buy houses in all these places with all the money hes earned from United. Beckham only left United coz Fergie had enough of him.He may have went to Milan,L.A, etc but he pined to be back at United.It hurts him that he was forced out.Scholes(and Giggs) kept away from that paparazzi nonsense.Once you leave United your only going one way.And its not up.(unless you go to Celtic of course)

flahavaj

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

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Im sure Scholes has a lovely pad on the outskirts of Manchester.He can holiday in Madrid,Milan etc till the day he drops.He can surely buy houses in all these places with all the money hes earned from United. Beckham only left United coz Fergie had enough of him.He may have went to Milan,L.A, etc but he pined to be back at United.It hurts him that he was forced out.Scholes(and Giggs) kept away from that paparazzi nonsense.Once you leave United your only going one way.And its not up.

I wasn't referring to how or why Beckham ended up there, I was referring to the type of life I'd like to have had. I'd love to have lived for a few years in all those places and my children to have the experience of life in those places in their formative years, going there on holidays just isn't the same. For me that would outweigh the professional satisfaction of all the trophies on offer at United (plus its not as if Real and Milan aren't exactly small clubs lacking in history and prestige).

PARKHEAD67

flahavaj wrote: »

I wasn't referring to how or why Beckham ended up there, I was referring to the type of life I'd like to have had. I'd love to have lived for a few years in all those places and my children to have the experience of life in those places in their formative years, going there on holidays just isn't the same. For me that would outweigh the professional satisfaction of all the trophies on offer at United (plus its not as if Real and Milan aren't exactly small clubs lacking in history and prestige).

Dont agree. Dragging kids from a school in England to a Spanish school, to an Italian one to an American one.How do the kids make friends.I know the Beckham kids are raised by nannies too.Their selfish.Victoria would give you a dose of the scutters.:D

starviewadams

Money is money and you can never have enough,especially when your chosen line of work limits you to only a 10-15 year window of opportunity to make it big and even more so in a career where the next 50/50 tackle you go in for could be your last.

If I'm RVP or Nasri etc and someone offers me another €50-100k per week to play somewhere else I don't think I'd need much time to think about it.

flahavaj

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

Dont agree. Dragging kids from a school in England to a Spanish school, to an Italian one to an American one.How do the kids make friends.I know the Beckham kids are raised by nannies too.Their selfish.Victoria would give you a dose of the scutters.:D

The benefit of learning so many different languages and living in such a diverse culture for all the family would outweigh the negative. Anyway as you siad earlier you'd be so rich they could see their old friends all the time at weekends/school holidays etc.

Again the specific's of Beckham's life are irrelevant either way. You could choose to live your life a different way to them while still folowing a similar (and IMO more interesting) career path.

My overall point is that a footballer doesn't hold club loyalty and being a one club man in the same esteem as a supporter. Its a job for them, they won't be as emotionally invested as you or I.

PARKHEAD67

starviewadams wrote: »

Money is money and you can never have enough,especially when your chosen line of work limits you to only a 10-15 year window of opportunity to make it big and even more so in a career where the next 50/50 tackle you go in for could be your last.

If I'm RVP or Nasri etc and someone offers me another €50-100k per week to play somewhere else I don't think I'd need much time to think about it.

Another 50-100k p.w?On top of what? 150k p.w? Good God. Footballs gone crazy.What would you do with your extra 50k p.w.? Buy an extra Merc per week.Good God , theres only so much money you can have.

flahavaj

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

Another 50-100k p.w?On top of what? 150k p.w? Good God. Footballs gone crazy.What would you do with your extra 50k p.w.? Buy an extra Merc per week.Good God , theres only so much money you can have.

What if a one club man is on £150k a week (say Messi) and he enters new contract talks where he demands another £50k a week? Is it any worse if he does it than if someone moves clubs to get it?

PARKHEAD67

flahavaj wrote: »

The benefit of learning so many different languages and living in such a diverse culture for all the family would outweigh the negative. Anyway as you siad earlier you'd be so rich they could see their old friends all the time at weekends/school holidays etc.

Again the specific's of Beckham's life are irrelevant either way. You could choose to live your life a different way to them while still folowing a similar (and IMO more interesting) career path.

My overall point is that a footballer doesn't hold club loyalty and being a one club man in the same esteem as a supporter. Its a job for them, they won't be as emotionally invested as you or I.

The Beckhams can barely speak English FFS.
Some players still do hold club loyalty believe it or not.I gave you Paul Mcstay as an example at Celtic.Giggs at United would be one of Uniteds.He could have done a Ronaldo and effed off to Madrid or the like earlier in his career.Im sure United were offered untold sums for his services down through the years.

PARKHEAD67

flahavaj wrote: »

What if a one club man is on £150k a week (say Messi) and he enters new contract talks where he demands another £50k a week? Is it any worse if he does it than if someone moves clubs to get it?

How does ANY man on earth need 150k per week? Money is the root of all evil as they say.

Luap

Ashley Cole springs to mind. :pac:

flahavaj

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

The Beckhams can barely speak English FFS.
Some players still do hold club loyalty believe it or not.I gave you Paul Mcstay as an example at Celtic.Giggs at United would be one of Uniteds.He could have done a Ronaldo and effed off to Madrid or the like earlier in his career.Im sure United were offered untold sums for his services down through the years.

You're clearly not reading anything I'm saying. Just because Beckham is thick doesn't mean that someone else couldn't enjoy the diversity of the places he chose to live.

I also haven't denied that club loyalty doesn't still exist, or that it isn't laudable. But for me a life like that would be boring after a while and if the opportunities arose to live in places like Barcelona, Madrid or Milan, (while being paid a small fortune to so so and still getting to perform for clubs with a rich history and play at the highest level) I'd find the lure of such a diverse and interesting personal and professional life far too hard to resist.

flahavaj

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

How does ANY man on earth need 150k per week? Money is the root of all evil as they say.

So if you were Messi and were offered a payrise along the lines I described you'd turn it down?

Dotrel

Nobody 'needs' 150k per week to live. Nobody even needs 50k a year to live if rationalise it enough. But if two reasonably comparable institutions want to pay a fortune and an even bigger fortune to play football for them wouldn't you logically go for the bigger offer (no matter what planned to do with the money, if anything at all)?

No one needs to be told there's a million things you can do with money beyond merely existing on it so I don't agree with this idea of saying "I have enough". If you win the lotto tomorrow (or whatever day it's held) you're not going to say "just give me 200k cos that's all I need to pay off the mortgage, you can keep the rest". Same for top footballers I reckon.

PARKHEAD67

flahavaj wrote: »

You're clearly not reading anything I'm saying. Just because Beckham is thick doesn't mean that someone else couldn't enjoy the diversity of the places he chose to live.

I also haven't denied that club loyalty doesn't still exist, or that it isn't laudable. But for me a life like that would be boring after a while and if the opportunities arose to live in places like Barcelona, Madrid or Milan, (while being paid a small fortune to so so and still getting to perform for clubs with a rich history and play at the highest level) I'd find the lure of such a diverse and interesting personal and professional life far too hard to resist.

Ya, fair enough.I doubt playing for Man Utd would become boring after a while though. I know what your saying though.

Hank Scorpio

Surprised the Rooney saga wasn't mentioned in this thread, but I honestly believed him when he said he was afraid the club weren't attracting/signing top class players after the departures of players like tevez/ronaldo etc.

He ended up getting alot of stick about being greedy.

That_Guy

Shola springs to mind.... though that might be down to his ability.... or lack of at times.

The Davestator

If man city offered messi 500k per week he'd be on the first plane to Manchester IMO. Only a few are actually 'club' players. JT, carra, giggs etc. the rest are employees.

CSF

The Davestator wrote: »

If man city offered messi 500k per week he'd be on the first plane to Manchester IMO.

Pretty sure you're wrong there but however. If City thought they could get Messi by paying 500k a week, they would do so.

curry-muff

The greatest case study on this top is Ricardo Kaka, genuinely loved his club and really didn't want to leave Milan, but the lure of the money and future success was too much for him to turn down, I'm sure he isn't the only one that would have chosen that path given the circumstances.

JokerD

Steve Bull at Wolves? Not entirely sure but didn't he turn down some moves when at Wolves.

Shearer turned down Man United, but Newcasle had good money then, however would they have paid him more than Man U?