Manager launches scathing attack on contract rebels like Mbappe, Pogba and Dembele

FT Desk

• 8 Feb 2022 18:33 GMT
• 5 min read

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has launched a scathing attack by stating that he’s “sick to his stomach” by players that intentionally run down their contracts to earn bigger salaries at their next clubs.

This summer’s transfer window will be like none other, with some of the biggest names in European football set to become free agents when their current deals come to an end.

Trending

Which football managers have been sacked this season?

What is Man Utd’s biggest loss of all time?

Premier League managers: Full list of current bosses

The likes of Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba of Manchester United, Osumane Dembele of Barcelona, Juventus forward Paulo Dybala and many more are all set to leave their clubs for free.

Many believe these star players will then be able to demand higher salaries and sign-on fees because their new clubs won’t be paying a standard transfer fee to sign them.

Which, according to the Southampton manager, is extremely troubling for a number of football clubs that are already struggling to keep up with the ever-increasing salary demands of modern players.

’I have a huge problem with it’

"I am extremely sick to my stomach of the way some players are being advised," said Hasenhuttl in an interview with German sports magazine Kicker.

"It's a trend to let contracts expire in order to be able to divide up money instead of transfer fees for clubs.

“I have a huge problem with that, I say that quite honestly, because this money is lost to football."

The Austrian manager added: "If we sign a player for €20m and he doesn't want to extend his contract after four years but wants to move on for free, then in retrospect I have to add the €20m to his salary. For clubs like us, something like that is a disaster."