Recently, Manchester United legend Gary Neville talked with Rooney on the "Stick to Football" podcast about the annual salary contract issue during his time at Manchester United. Neville publicly called for agents to be removed from footba...
Recently, Manchester United legend Gary Neville talked with Rooney on the "Stick to Football" podcast about the annual salary contract issue during his time at Manchester United. Neville publicly called for agents to be removed from football in 2007. However, when he learned about the contract income of his former teammate Rooney during his peak period, his mind immediately changed.
Neville asked Rooney: "What is your largest contract at Manchester United? When I was a teammate with you in the 2010-11 season, I only had an annual salary of 1.75 million pounds, and I was still the captain."
Rooney said that during the last Manchester United contract he signed in 2014: "I earned about 17 million pounds a year at most."
The shocked Neville immediately responded: "I now feel that I should get it. More (laughing). That's so exaggerated, congratulations, Paul (Rooney's agent Paul Streford). Paul, let's talk about it later! I think I need an agent all these years, but you really need an agent! 17 million pounds a year, wow!"
But as a player, Neville didn't like agents. In an interview with the Guardian in 2007, he said: "I hope to see agents disappear in the football circle.
Neville said: "What has always puzzled me is: How can a person negotiate wages for players and then ask for hundreds of thousands or even millions of pounds in commission? I personally can't understand it in this day and age. This money should stay in the football system and if the player deserves it, he should take it himself. "
As a representative of Manchester United's Players Association (PFA), Neville has also warned young players about the risks of cooperating with agents. "Since we have such a strong union, the PFA can help guide young players correctly so that they will not rely on those who want to make money from you. "
The 50-year-old Neville has played in the Manchester United first team for 19 years, making 600 appearances and winning 25 trophies. He is regarded as a club legend. After retiring in 2011, Neville has multiple sources of income. He is best known as a commentator for Sky Sports and works for ITV during national team games. In addition, he is also the co-owner of the English second division team Salford City and has been involved in real estate development since the age of 21.
