Liverpool star Raheem Sterling has angered the club’s supporters – and much of the footballing world – after the Daily Mail reported that the winger was prepared to knock back a contract offer from his Anfield side, worth a staggering £180,000 a week.
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The England international’s apparent greed has been widely criticised, but he is not the only mercenary who has appeared to stick two fingers up at the club that gave him his opportunity.
Here are some of the other names that engineered a move, or negotiated a ridiculous contract with their current side, simply to make their bank balance look more impressive:
Samuel Eto’o (Anzhi Makhachkala)
The Cameroon striker was still one of the most lethal goalscorers in the world during his time with Inter Milan. In Serie A, Eto’o averaged nearly a goal every two games, and would also win the Champions League. One year later however, the forward signed for the practically unheard of – but insanely wealthy – Russian side Anzhi, and according to the Telegraph, was pocketing €20m a year.
Despite a decent return in Russia, Eto’o was not the same striker by the time he moved to Chelsea in 2013.
Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain)
Asamoah Gyan was one of the stars of the 2010 World Cup, and the whole world seemed to cry for him when he missed a penalty in the quarter-finals for underdogs Ghana. But the striker ruined his reputation when he left Premier League side Sunderland for Abu Dhabi-based club Al Ain on an initial loan deal.
When the deal was made permanent one year later, the Mirror reported that Gyan was earning an eye-watering £140,000 a week after tax.
Ashley Cole (Chelsea)
The left-back’s fragmented relationship with Arsenal fans was summed up when he avoided making a contribution to a book written about the Invincible side of 2003-04.
According to the Daily Mail, the England defender left the Gunners because of his outrage over their contract extension offer. Cole had been so angry he was offered £55,000 a week, instead of £60,000, that he moved across London to Chelsea. The Blues were willing to pay the Arsenal academy graduate £90,000 a week.
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Wayne Rooney may now be a Manchester United hero, and on the cusp of England goalscoring history, but the striker was on the verge of leaving Old Trafford for Stamford Bridge in 2013. According to the Guardian, Rooney was prepared to submit a transfer request to force through a move to their Premier League rivals.
However, having signed a new contract last year, that’s all in the past – now the United skipper is being paid £300,000 a week, according to the BBC.
Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City)
Of all the first-team players to leave Arsenal in recent years, none quite make the blood boil more than striker Emmanuel Adebayor. The Togo forward claimed to the leave Emirates in 2009 for Manchester City because of the abuse he was getting from his own fans. However, the Sun report that former teammate Gael Clichy rejected those assertions, believing that the now Tottenham player left to double his wages.
Fellow hate figures that have made the switch from the Emirates to the Etihad include Samir Nasri, Bacary Sagna, and funnily enough Gael Clichy.
Winston Bogarde (Chelsea)
Despite winning the Champions League with Ajax, and La Liga twice with Barcelona, Winston Bogarde will make it into most Premier League all-time flop XI’s. The Dutch defender featured just nine times in four years for Chelsea, before retiring without fanfare.
What is even more baffling about his desperately poor time in London, is that his wage at the club was £40,000 a week, according to the Mail.