Roma goalkeeper Doni has revealed why he won’t be joining Liverpool this summer. He told Il Tempo:
“I have only received an official offer from Liverpool, but I could not accept those conditions. I would have had my salary cut by 60 per cent. After signing a five-year contract extension with Roma in 2008 and having given a knee for Roma’s cause I am unwilling to give away money.”
Doni is believed to be on €4m a year, meaning he would be on £28K a week at Liverpool. A reasonable amount for a reserve team goalkeeper you might think, but it shows that Fenway Sports Group will not pay over the odds for any player coming to the football club.
John W Henry expressed his concern when FSG first took over the club that the wage bill didn’t reflect the quality of players at the club, and now he is seemingly putting his principles into practice on new signings.
Over the full term of a contract, wages can cost just as much, if not more, than the transfer fee for a player, and if sources are to believed, the £1.5million agreed for Doni would have cost the club 10 times that over a three year contract.
It is a sensible strategy no doubt. Investing in players, in terms of transfer fees and wages, which can be compensated through shirt sales, success on the pitch and perhaps to sell on to another club, is a good way to go, but having such a strict wage structure will mean the Reds will miss out on players.
If it comes to a straight fight between Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool for a player in the future, the other two’s financial clout in regards to wages will blow the Reds out of the water, but it is something you will have to accept if you buy into Liverpool’s long term financial strategy.
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Man City and Chelsea won’t be able to pay such exoribtant salaries if Uefa enforce the Rules properly. Their global fan base is but a speck compared to Liverpool and Man Utd and won’t generate enough revenue to sustain their high wages.
All good except Baseball has absolutley no salary cap whatsoever. Boston makes money and they put that into the squad. For FSG its about the big picture taking the team and making it into a brand that rivals Disney or Microsoft, so that the value of the club goes up. Then sell the team later on at a huge profit. These guys are in for the long haul in order to make Liverpool into a profit they know they have to win.