If you heard that Carlos Tevez will earn about 760,000 US dollars a week to play for Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese CSL, you are not alone. The outlandish figure was widely reported in Argentina after the 32-year-old forward played his final match for Boca Juniors before boarding a plane to China.
But during his official presentation from the Shanghai club, Tevez denied this number, which would put him ahead of any other football players in history in terms of wages, represents the actual figure in his contract.
“After my last game [with Boca] I didn't mention anything to the local media about my salary in China,” Tevez said.
“Salary matters shouldn't be discussed with everyone, it's a matter of respect for my team-mates.
“My salary isn't as high as the reports say, but out of respect to my team-mates I won't tell you how much it is.”
Earlier in January cross-city rivals Shanghai SIPG had signed Oscar from Chelsea for a reported weekly salary of over half a million US dollars, which converted Brazilian midfielder into the highest-paid footballer, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi.