OPINION
It’s easy to have very little sympathy for footballers when it comes to their finances. Most make more in a week than the rest of us do in a year, and you would be fibbing if you didn’t admit to being at least a little bit jealous.
People complain about the levels of wealth in the game, and while it has reached a ridiculous level, and while there is still an awful lot that could be done to benefit the loyal fan on the street instead of the hyper rich minority, it is just about more palatable for that money to be going to a player instead of it lining the pockets of a self-interested businessman.
There are times when footballers do deserve a bit of sympathy, however, and you can’t help feeling at least a little bit sorry for Loris Karius.
The German has had it pretty bad in recent times, and after that disastrous Champions League final last season, probably down to a concussion that he should never have been allowed to play on through, he did well to rally himself and pull his gloves on ever again.
This season he has gone a decent way to restoring some of his reputation with some really solid performances for Besiktas over in Turkey, but things have soured recently over suggestions that he is not being paid.
Things have gotten so bad that, according to Turkiye Gazetesi, the German has pleaded with his parent club to cut his loan spell short.
It speaks volumes to how miserable he must be feeling on the continent that he would rather come back to England, knowing that he won’t get a look in ahead of Alisson, instead of stick it out in Turkey.
Besiktas clearly have their financial issues, and for all he probably has a tidy nest egg tucked away somewhere, that is hardly Karius’ fault.
If the rumours are to be believed, then it is blatant mistreatment of a player, a breaking of a contractual agreement, and the Reds must do the decent thing and bring the keeper back to Anfield, even if it is just until he can be moved on in the summer.
