Signing a new player doesn’t only involve both the clubs agreeing on a transfer fee. The player also has to agree on the contract and sometimes, the contract involves surprising clauses demanded by the club or the player.
So here we take a look at the top 10 most surprising contract clauses in football history:
10. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | 20-minute appearance clause
The Liverpool man has a clause in his contract about appearing at least for 20 minutes.
9. Mario Balotelli | Good conduct clause
Liverpool signed the Italian in 2014 but was unable to perform well for the team as he only scored 4 goals in 28 appearances in all competitions. However, his behaviour during that time was very good as Liverpool inserted a ‘good behaviour’ clause which meant he would have to leave if he misbehaved.
8. Roberto Firmino | Anti-Arsenal clause
Liverpool signed Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim in 2015. They included a €98million release clause “if the interested club is not Arsenal”. The Brazilian striker has scored eight goals in 12 Premier League matches against the Gunners.
7. Luis Suarez | Biting clause
Suarez has a history of biting players during his time at Ajax, Liverpool and Uruguay. So when Barcelona signed the Uruguayan in 2014 for £64.98 million, they reportedly included a ‘no biting’ clause which meant he would be sold if he did so.
6. Dennis Bergkamp | No-fly clause
The player didn’t want to fly because of his fear. Strangely, the club granted his request and he missed a lot of away games for Arsenal.
5. Samuel Eto’o | Private Jet clause
Samuel Eto’o surprisingly signed for Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala from Inter Milan in 2011. That contract made him the world’s highest-paid player and also included featured a private jet clause.
He wanted to live in Moscow, rather than Makhachkala, which is more than 1,000 miles apart. A normal flight takes more than two hours but Eto’o could be home from training in an hour.
4. Ronaldinho |Two nights out clause
Ronaldinho’s contract included a special clause that allowed him two nights out every week during his Flamengo days.
3. Neymar | Visiting friends clause
Barcelona signed Neymar from Santos in 2013. To avoid Neymar being homesick, they agreed to pay an all exclusive visit from his family and group of friends from Brazil every 14 days till the time he stays at the club.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo | €1 billion release clause
La Liga rule specifies every football player will have a release clause. So former Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo also had one in his contract. He had a €1 billion release clause in his Real Madrid contract.
Perez summed it up by saying: “The release clauses are not there to be paid. If there has to be sale, it’s negotiated.”
1. Lionel Messi | Catalan clause
After Lionel Messi’s incredible contract was leaked it showed there was a clause that he should “integrate into Catalan society and culture”.
Reportedly, Barcelona asked Messi to learn Catalan, while another said he would become a free agent should Catalonia become independent.
Other notable contract clauses:
- Keisuke Honda – Armoured vehicle clause
- Radamel Falcao – Dodgy knee clause
- Stefan Schwarz – Space clause
- Georg Koch – Racism clause
- Neil Ruddock – Weight clause
- Giuseppe Reina – House clause
- Stig Inge Bjornebye – No ski clause
