Do you ever have enough £££?

[Keet]

I've been reading an article about Gareth Bale (a footballer / soccer player for those who don't know or care), and how he is leaving his club Real Madrid and potentially going to play in China for a reported £1,000,0000 a week.

Now, there's loads of comments on the BBC news page ranging from those who reckon he is selling out and going to China purely for the money and those who are saying "good for you, get it whilst you can".

I understand that a sports career is only short but it got me to thinking, how much money is enough? I mean, this guy could come back to the UK and play in the Premier League, which they claim is the best league in the world, for about £350,000 a week which over a year is still considerably more than most ordinary working people can expect to possibly earn in a working lifetime.

There are football clubs and small companies going under because they owe the Inland Revenue the equivalent of 2 weeks wages for most of the top footballers.

So how much money is enough money?

 

[andyglym]

My view that Bale is going to China (if correct) for the money. No prestige in China. Spain, Italy, Germany and England are where the prestige is. I'd never hold a grudge for the money these lads make as if it wasn't there they wouldn't get it.

 

[Jack Ratt]

Will Lewis Hamilton ever race for free? Will Brad Pitt do his next movie for free?

 

[Keet]

Will Lewis Hamilton ever race for free? Will Brad Pitt do his next movie for free?

I'm in no way suggesting anyone, work for free.

My point is, it appears that Bale is going to China purely for the money, not to play at the highest level in his chosen field, even though he is already a multi-millionaire, as his wages are only a small part of his income when you take into account all his sponsorship deals.

 

[Oddly Godly]

The viewing figures in China for there league are more than the premiership. Its a massive audience. Its the same as the IPL cricket. Its an obscene amount of money but is no different to most foreign players over here coming for the money.
I will be up at six tomorrow cutting a bowls green, if someone in China offers me a million pounds a week I'm off

 

[Fender2004]

I have little or no interest in football, but if he can get that sort of money then go for it. I’m sure if we were in the same position we would do exactly the same. As the saying goes ‘money talks’

 

[mrscalex]

I've been a football fan for over 40 years but never have I been less interested in the game than I am now.

This possibly marks a new trend in footballers at the peak of their career going to China too. Most of the ones that have gone previously are at the end of their careers.

It really makes me feel quite angry the sums of money being paid in transfers and wages now. It just takes the mickey bliss out of hard working regular folk. And I am no socialist, quite the opposite but there are limits.

If he was interested principally in the football he wouldn't be going to China. I expect he'll be back to a European club in a couple of years, past his best then and unlikely to get another chance at a top club. So he's bought himself a one way ticket I reckon.

 

[DaveB with a Z3]

It is a truly obscene amount of money , I'd go for half that .

 

[t-tony]

Not that many years ago players would go to play in the USA to get one last pay day . Rodney Marsh springs to mind, this is just the modern day equivalent. I think, personally it's an obsene amount of money but he wanted to be remembered for his football he would come back to the UK.

Tony.

 

[miller1098]

Not that many years ago players would go to play in the USA to get one last pay day . Rodney Marsh springs to mind, this is just the modern day equivalent. I think, personally it's an obsene amount of money but he wanted to be remembered for his football he would come back to the UK.

Tony.

Go to China ,a whole new adventure encourage young people over there. memories are bearly a generation and why not be remembered in China and get a really good wage.No interest in footy by the way but carried our kids around enough when they were young and coached the local girls team to a league win.Ioan gets paid for playing but it’s not going to change his life but he does usually go where they pay him the most.Ive been banned from attending matches as I’m too loud

 

[t-tony]

Well he barely tried to learn Spanish and mix with their local culture so I can't imagine China will be any different.

Tony.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Million quid a week? I'll go. For a week.

 

[Zomerset]

I've been a football fan for over 40 years but never have I been less interested in the game than I am now.

This possibly marks a new trend in footballers at the peak of their career going to China too. Most of the ones that have gone previously are at the end of their careers.

It really makes me feel quite angry the sums of money being paid in transfers and wages now. It just takes the mickey bliss out of hard working regular folk. And I am no socialist, quite the opposite but there are limits.

If he was interested principally in the football he wouldn't be going to China. I expect he'll be back to a European club in a couple of years, past his best then and unlikely to get another chance at a top club. So he's bought himself a one way ticket I reckon.

Two things-

1- on Bale- he's clearly going for the money despite being extraordinarily wealthy already. 6 years at £200k a week He's set for life. Id like to think (and am pretty sure) that if I was in his position, I would go and play somewhere for fun- regardless of pay.

2- Get yourself involved down at a local non league club. I am an absolute convert to non league football. Standard is better than many think. Less cheating, less stupid money, and a chance to engage with club and team like we used to before Sky and huge cash input ruined it. Give it a try- perhaps one or two levels lower than conference.

 

[mrscalex]

Two things-

1- on Bale- he's clearly going for the money despite being extraordinarily wealthy already. 6 years at £200k a week He's set for life. Id like to think (and am pretty sure) that if I was in his position, I would go and play somewhere for fun- regardless of pay.

2- Get yourself involved down at a local non league club. I am an absolute convert to non league football. Standard is better than many think. Less cheating, less stupid money, and a chance to engage with club and team like we used to before Sky and huge cash input ruined it. Give it a try- perhaps one or two levels lower than conference.

I get involved with lower level football on 2 levels. My lads u-16 and me and my Dad being Southampton supporters.

 

[Robert Wiles]

Not that many years ago players would go to play in the USA to get one last pay day . Rodney Marsh springs to mind, this is just the modern day equivalent. I think, personally it's an obsene amount of money but he wanted to be remembered for his football he would come back to the UK.

Tony.

Slightly off topic, but how skillful were the likes of Rodney Marsh, George Best and Stan Bowles? Today's players get to strut their stuff on pitches that are like carpet. Those guys had to play on mudheaps (especially Marsh and Bowles at Loftus Road) and yet they still exhibited perfect touch and timing. And they didn't earn obscene amounts of money either....

 

[Oddly Godly]

Although I have always supported Man utd I also support the two Dunstable teams AFC and Town. Two seasons ago Dunstable Town players played for free as they were broke. Just one day of Bales wages would keep both clubs going for a couple of years.

 

[Z Victor 1]

Bale is in no way the best player in the world, but recklessly, Real Madrid gave him a lucrative and more importantly long contract. He likes playing at the club and living in Madrid so he doesn't want to move.They want him out so either they pay up his contract or somebody pays so much he has no real choice.He's coming towards the end of a relatively short career. Does he battle it out with younger stars in Europe or look great and earn a fortune in China then retire?Wish I had such a dilema!

 

[Zomerset]

I get involved with lower level football on 2 levels. My lads u-16 and me and my Dad being Southampton supporters.

Pop down to Blackfield and Langley if you get the chance

 

[Pingu]

Bale is in no way the best player in the world, but recklessly, Real Madrid gave him a lucrative and more importantly long contract. He likes playing at the club and living in Madrid so he doesn't want to move.They want him out so either they pay up his contract or somebody pays so much he has no real choice.He's coming towards the end of a relatively short career. Does he battle it out with younger stars in Europe or look great and earn a fortune in China then retire?Wish I had such a dilema!

From what I can make from the story. He is on £650k pw at Real Madrid and still has several years left on his contract. Whether ZeeZee has been told by the owners to get rid of him is another question, but the upshot is, he will never play while ZeeZee is manager.

Next year is the European Championships and if he wants to play for Wales, he needs regular football. He is very injury prone and any Prem Lge team would be taking a huge risk paying his wages only for 20-25 games per season. He is very injury prone and any Prem Lge team would be taking a huge risk paying his wages only for 20-25 games per season.

Real Madrid want to get rid of him at the cheapest cost to them, and the cheapest to them is probably to stop paying his contract. That would save them £23M. Any transfer fee would be a bonus.

 

[petecossie]

Get yourself involved down at a local non league club.

I've supported Non-League football since way back (haven't got enough fingers to count up the years!!) My son started with junior teams when he was 8 years old, he played in his first senior game when he 16, he's now 40 on Monday and still playing in the Northern League Division 1, probably his last season. Have to agreed the standard of the some of the football is really good to watch, puts some the Premier League players to shame the effort these lads put in with training and holding down a fulltime job aswell. Highlight last year was seeing my son's picture up on the big screen at Wembley for the FA Vase final. We lost to Brackley Town 1-0 but it was worth all the years going to support him knowing he'd got to Wembley which he had dreamed of since he was a kid.