By Ciaran Kelly | Manchester Evening News |
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the Premier League’s highest paid player and earns more than DOUBLE what Paul Pogba does, according to a new book.
The 35-year-old joined the Reds on a free transfer from PSG in June and went on to score 28 goals for Jose Mourinho’s side before suffering a serious knee injury last month.
The Swede initially moved to Old Trafford on a one-year deal, with the option of second, but the injury has put a longer stay in serious doubt.
According to Football Leaks: The Dirty Business of Football, Ibrahimovic was just four Premier League starts shy of triggering a clause for an extension.
The book claims that the Swede earns a basic salary of £367,640 per week, or £19.11m a year, and is due a total goal bonus of £2.86m.
If Ibrahimovic does stay next season, and United reach the Champions League, he will reportedly receive £500,000 if the Reds reach the quarter-finals; £1.25m for the semi-finals; £2.275m for the final; and £5.25m for winning the competition.
Pogba, meanwhile, is not quite at that level yet – despite being the world transfer record holder.
The book claims that the 24-year-old is on half of Ibrahimovic’s salary, at £165,588 a week, but that does not tell the full story of his 41-page contract.
The France star is due an annual rise of £1.875m next season and £255,000 in image rights if United qualify for the Champions League.
Pogba will reportedly earn a loyalty bonus of £3.46m from next season and an annual rise of £980,000 if he is voted FIFA Player of the Year.
According to the book, the pair’s agent, Mino Raiola, made a whopping £41.39m from the two deals.
The superagent reportedly received £22.8m of Pogba’s transfer fee and is due a further £16.39m in five separate installments.
It is also claimed that United paid the £2.2m Pogba owed to Raiola’s Monaco-based agency, Uuniqq SARL.
