Ramsey joins the football elite
STAGGERING: £400K A WEEK FOR WELSH SUPERSTAR
London
Aaron Ramsey has joined European football’s moneyed elite after agreeing a lucrative move to Juventus, but doubts remain about the Arsenal midfielder’s ability to justify his jaw-dropping salary.
Reports in Britain claim Ramsey’s four-year deal will pay him a basic salary of £400 000 per week once he officially joins Juventus in the close season.
While some in the Italian media have questioned whether the contract is really that high, there can be no doubt the Welsh star is now among the best-paid players in the world.
The staggering salary was available to Ramsey because his Arsenal deal was due to expire at the end of this season, making him eligible to sign a pre-contract with any overseas team after January 1 under the terms of the “Bosman ruling” that provides the guidelines for free agent transfers.
The 28-year-old is a quality player but few would rank him alongside soon-to-be Juventus team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, or Lionel Messi and Neymar – global icons whose pay packets are among the biggest in the sport.
Juventus’ willingness to splash the cash on Ramsey has surprised many but, because the Italian club didn’t need to give Arsenal a transfer fee, they see the deal as good business.
Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici told Gazzetta dello Sport that Ramsey can finally unlock his full potential in Turin.
“Ramsey is a player who in my opinion has never found his position, because he has never played in a three [in midfield], which is his role, capable as he is of running from deep,” he said.
Ramsey has provided six assists in the Premier League this season – more than any Juventus midfielder – and John Toshack, who gave Ramsey his Welsh debut, believes he is versatile enough to cope in Serie A.
“He might do better in a threeman midfield, where he has the possibility to push forward. In modern football you do need to be versatile and he is a modern player,” Toshack said.
Arsenal had been prepared to offer Ramsey an improved longterm contract, but that deal was suddenly taken off the table following the arrival of manager Unai Emery in the close season.
While Ramsey is a fan favourite for his whole-hearted play and knack of scoring crucial goals, he has been reduced to bit-part status under Emery.
He has made only nine Premier League starts this term, featuring 13 times as a substitute.
Now Ramsey is preparing to follow in the footsteps of fellow Welshmen John Charles and Ian Rush, who also made headline-grabbing moves to Juventus.
His place in Juve’s hall of fame is uncertain, but his bank balance will never be a problem again. –