"Players should be paid more"

Wagner, who came up through the ranks of Bayern Munich, but failed to break into the first-team, does not believe footballers are paid enough, not even the likes of the Bayern stars who earn €12 million per season.

The 28-year-old does not believe that all the precautions and sacrifices professional players have to make in their short careers is properly rewarded, even at the very top level.

"When you look at all the sacrifices footballers have to make, they do not earn enough money," Wagner told Bild.

"Everybody is looking at everything you are doing, in your personal life as well. There are a lot of sacrifices.

"I think even the players at Bayern do not make enough money, not even €12 million or so is enough. Professional athletes in American competitions make much more.

"And you do not become a professional footballer from out of nowhere. You give up your entire youth. You hardly have any friends, you cannot just go out at night.

"You always have to be fit, there is always a match around the corner. It's hard work and people tend to forget about that.

"And your career lasts only 10 to 15 years. You generally don't have any proper education and have to start all over again when your career is over.

"Footballers deserve everything they earn. It's also a matter of supply and demand."

To be fair, we wouldn't be happy with €12 million either.....