Real Madrid really are a crafty bunch.
They may not know their way around Microsoft Windows 95, or perhaps they shaven’t mastered the art of the fax machine, but they do know how to insert a clever clause into player’s contract to ensure wads of cash if he is ever sold on to whom they view as ‘the wrong club’.
Angel Di Maria left the La Liga giants for Manchester United as one of Louis van Gaal’s key summer signings in his first transfer window at Old Trafford. It didn’t really turn out all that well for the Argentine however, and he was shifted on to PSG just 12 months later.
The winger was expected by some to move back to Spain at the time, but Footy Leaks has revealed Real Madrid inserted a clause effectively preventing the player returning to La Liga.
The clause stated that if Di Maria was sold back to one of Madrid’s domestic rivals within a year of him leaving the club, Manchester United would have to stump up €50million (£38.9m).
The fee paid to Los Blancos would reduce with every passing year, but it may explain why the winger was instead flogged to PSG for a very decent chunk of change.
The contract also ensured that if Manchester United thought of selling the player to Barcelona at any stage, they would have to pay Madrid €30 million.
Football Leaks: If MUFC sold Di Maria to Barca €30m RMCF compensation for 2 more yrs until contract expiry in 2019. pic.twitter.com/77Jxvqn4ef
— M.A.J (@UltraSuristic) February 19, 2016
Somehow Ed Woodward agreed to all of this, and luckily for him PSG were more than willing to give the midfielder an escape route out of his Manchester misery.
