Benítez warns money grabbers

[Benitez]

Benítez warns money grabbers

 

Dominic Fifield and Paul Kelso

Saturday May 5, 2007

The Guardian

 

Rafael Benítez will offer incentive-based contracts to new signings in the summer, wary that players may demand unrealistic wages from a club who have recently been taken over and reached a second Champions League final in three years.

 

"I like to offer players contracts with objectives," said Liverpool's manager. "If they want to earn more money then they need to win more trophies. That is the perfect situation. Contracts would be incentive-based if it is possible. For some players a big club just means big wages.

 

"For example, we had a young player we wanted to sign, a bright boy and good player who wanted to come here. Then his agent started talking about money, money, money. We dropped it. You must come here with passion. It is not about money but an opportunity to improve and win trophies. That is the mentality that we need here."

 

Benítez has opened contract talks with his key pair Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher and is also to offer improved terms to Xabi Alonso, Luis García, José Reina, Daniel Agger and Steve Finnan. The bulk of those players will be rested at Fulham this afternoon, but Harry Kewell is expected to feature on the bench.

 

Guardian

 

 

That bit in bold is fairynuff

[Guest Snorky]

I hope he gets his way, but our players are on very good wages as it is, so would there be incentive ??

 

Players should want to win trophies because they want to win trophies and not earn extra money.

 

I think this could be a double edged sword.

[Zoob]

Any ideas who the player he's talking about is (the one that we wanted to sign before the agent started talking money money money...)?

 

I thought it might be Lucas Neil, but he's neither young nor bright.

[Guest Snorky]

It was Ant

[Maldini]

Vidic

[JonShar]

Or Wright Phillips.

[Maldini]

Rafa (or it could have been Parry) spoke about Vidic (or his agent) going on about money before

[Guest Prongsy]

I pity the Kewell.

 

How is he ever going to get by on £34.50 a week.

[Cooldude]

I hope he gets his way, but our players are on very good wages as it is, so would there be incentive ??

 

Players should want to win trophies because they want to win trophies and not earn extra money.

 

I think this could be a double edged sword.

 

Not really, more like two birds one stone, any sane players should naturally want to win trophies, but having performance based contracts means if you win trophies you also win $$$.

[fyds]

I hope he gets his way, but our players are on very good wages as it is, so would there be incentive ??

 

Players should want to win trophies because they want to win trophies and not earn extra money.

 

I think this could be a double edged sword.

Performance/incentive schemes for players is the right way to go. No-one works for free if they can help it and offereing better rewards for success is hardly unusual and certainly not wrong.

[psl]

Benítez warns money grabbers

 

Dominic Fifield and Paul Kelso

Saturday May 5, 2007

The Guardian

 

Rafael Benítez will offer incentive-based contracts to new signings in the summer, wary that players may demand unrealistic wages from a club who have recently been taken over and reached a second Champions League final in three years.

 

"I like to offer players contracts with objectives," said Liverpool's manager. "If they want to earn more money then they need to win more trophies. That is the perfect situation. Contracts would be incentive-based if it is possible. For some players a big club just means big wages.

 

"For example, we had a young player we wanted to sign, a bright boy and good player who wanted to come here. Then his agent started talking about money, money, money. We dropped it. You must come here with passion. It is not about money but an opportunity to improve and win trophies. That is the mentality that we need here."

 

Benítez has opened contract talks with his key pair Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher and is also to offer improved terms to Xabi Alonso, Luis García, José Reina, Daniel Agger and Steve Finnan. The bulk of those players will be rested at Fulham this afternoon, but Harry Kewell is expected to feature on the bench.

 

Guardian

That bit in bold is fairynuff

 

[Owen1978]

It was Ant

 

And i suppose you were his agent!

 

Money grabbing barsteward!

 

[Buzz]

Don't know if its from the same interview reworded or what but the independent says this today.

A second Champions League final appearance in three seasons has encouraged Steven Gerrard to disclose he is close to extending his contract at Liverpool and the manager, Rafael Benitez, to insist the achievement will attract the calibre of player he requires to replicate European success in the Premiership.

 

Gerrard is one of several players Liverpool hope to secure on new long-term deals before they face Milan in Athens on 23 May, with the Anfield captain in negotiations over a £120,000-a-week contract and Jamie Carragher, Jose Reina, Steve Finnan, Xabi Alonso among others being invited to extend their careers on Merseyside. "I'd love nothing better than to get this contract sorted and signed," Gerrard said yesterday.

 

Benitez, meanwhile, believes that another showpiece occasion will assist his pursuit of major European transfer targets this summer when he will also be armed with substantial backing from the new American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillet.

 

The Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o and Valencia's David Villa are among the stellar names to have been linked with Liverpool of late but Benitez insists the club's added wealth will not lead to a Roman Abramovich-style spending spree.

 

"At this moment we don't have a figure but we will not do silly things in the market," he added. "A player who asks about money first is not the player you want for 120 minutes in a Champions League semi-final."

With Jose Mourinho brushed aside for another season Benitez returned to his diplomatic self yesterday and refused to rise to the Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso's criticisms of Liverpool's style. "I expect more of this sort of thing, but I wonder just how many times he has seen us play," he said.

 

Benitez also shrugged off criticism of his youth team policy from the former academy director Steve Heighway. "It is better to say nothing but I am surprised by what he said," admitted the Spaniard, who will rest several players at Fulham today and is contemplating a return for Harry Kewell.

I love it that Rafa just won't buy anyone with talent because he can now afford it, they must have the right mentality like him. Interesting bit about kewell too.

[Mr Makaveli]

I hope he gets his way, but our players are on very good wages as it is, so would there be incentive ??

 

Players should want to win trophies because they want to win trophies and not earn extra money.

 

I think this could be a double edged sword.

 

I think it might be more about Rafa making a statement of ambition. He wants to win more and wants players who are looking for success before money.. they'll still get a huge wage and the statement will have little if no effect on what we do pay whoever comes in.