Lupo Italiano
29-08-2006, 12:13
Not Wolves related but I thought I would share a 'soap opera' with you:
We, like many football fans, often discuss the ridiculously inflated salaries of the modern footballer, many earning more er week than the average fan earns in a year.
And that is before you add on bonuses, advertising and sponsorship.
Someone who epitomises the modern day footballing mercenary is an Italian hero of mine, the legendary Christian 'Bobo' Vieri.
Up until signing for Inter Milan in 2000, Vieri had changed clubs virtually every season of his career, each time for a bigger salary and a big signing on fee.
He then spent a few seasons at Inter but even then, fell out with the manager and fans and went on 'celebration strike', refusing to celebrate any of his goals and shunning his teammates.
In the last year, Vieri has moved from Inter to Milan, then in January on to Monaco of France in order to get regular football in preperation for the World Cup finals.
His appearance at the finals was scuppered by a knee injury.
Over the summer, there have been rumours that Vieri would return to Italy and sign for his 'boyhood heores', Sampdoria, the club his father played for.
He did indeed sign for them on a hugely reduced salary of £575,000 pa. Until then, Vieri had been earning in excess of £100,000 per week and was infamous for his womanising, batchelor lifestyle, the ultimate footballing millionaire playboy.
he failed to show for pre season training with Samp, preferring to train alone in Milan to regain his fitness.
Then it was rumoured that he would not be taking up Samp's contract after all as he was contemplating retirement as he was struggling to motivate himself, he was even considering a place on 'Isola di Famosi', the Italian version of I'm a Celebrity.
After his contract was cancelled by Samp, he offered his services to former club Juve who politely declined his offer.
The latest part of this soap opera is that Vieri is to rejoin Atalanta, a club he played for early in his career on a playing contract of just over £1,000 per month (the minimum wage).
So Vieri, the ultimate footballing mercenary, could be appearing in Serie A next season for the minimum wage... or maybe not!
We, like many football fans, often discuss the ridiculously inflated salaries of the modern footballer, many earning more er week than the average fan earns in a year.
And that is before you add on bonuses, advertising and sponsorship.
Someone who epitomises the modern day footballing mercenary is an Italian hero of mine, the legendary Christian 'Bobo' Vieri.
Up until signing for Inter Milan in 2000, Vieri had changed clubs virtually every season of his career, each time for a bigger salary and a big signing on fee.
He then spent a few seasons at Inter but even then, fell out with the manager and fans and went on 'celebration strike', refusing to celebrate any of his goals and shunning his teammates.
In the last year, Vieri has moved from Inter to Milan, then in January on to Monaco of France in order to get regular football in preperation for the World Cup finals.
His appearance at the finals was scuppered by a knee injury.
Over the summer, there have been rumours that Vieri would return to Italy and sign for his 'boyhood heores', Sampdoria, the club his father played for.
He did indeed sign for them on a hugely reduced salary of £575,000 pa. Until then, Vieri had been earning in excess of £100,000 per week and was infamous for his womanising, batchelor lifestyle, the ultimate footballing millionaire playboy.
he failed to show for pre season training with Samp, preferring to train alone in Milan to regain his fitness.
Then it was rumoured that he would not be taking up Samp's contract after all as he was contemplating retirement as he was struggling to motivate himself, he was even considering a place on 'Isola di Famosi', the Italian version of I'm a Celebrity.
After his contract was cancelled by Samp, he offered his services to former club Juve who politely declined his offer.
The latest part of this soap opera is that Vieri is to rejoin Atalanta, a club he played for early in his career on a playing contract of just over £1,000 per month (the minimum wage).
So Vieri, the ultimate footballing mercenary, could be appearing in Serie A next season for the minimum wage... or maybe not!
