IT’S week seven of The Secret Wag – the woman whose bombshell revelations have been the talk of dressing rooms up and down the country.
She is the only person with her finger on the pulse of all the gossip of the Premier League’s biggest stars.
PLAYERS have become so valuable in recent years that agents will literally do ANYTHING to make sure they get their signing . . . and their cut.
They normally get 15 to 20 per cent on commercial deals, but not on their client’s wages.
A lot of the players employ their brothers as agents now so they are not losing any money.
You used to have to do an agents’ exam, but now it’s easy – any Tom, Dick or Harry can be an agent.
NO RESPECT
Lawyers get really annoyed about the money they get when they are the ones with the brains doing the deals.
It’s very common for fathers to pimp out their sons to any agent who will give them the biggest bung – “pay me and I will make sure my son signs with you”.
There are two players in the Premier League whose agents are barred – but they still secretly do all the deals. It’s big money – they will do anything.
Players can choose their agents but not the manager.
Last year, at Manchester United, José Mourinho was really disliked by many.
He has a history of addressing the young players only as “boy” until they get into the first team, then he would call them by name.
He was harsh. If players have been on duty with their country – like in the World Cup – they get an extended summer holiday.
But Mourinho told Man U players that they had to cut their holiday short or they would be dropped and forced to play for the Under 21s. They all hated it.
Maurizio Sarri was just as unpopular at Chelsea.
Some of the players had no respect for him, they didn’t want to do anything for him.
At one point some of them discussed not training for him.
- IT’S half-term, and like any good Wag I’m heading off for a last bit of sunshine before the nights close in. So I won’t be around next week. See you soon . . .
Footballers aren’t homophobic
IT always astounds me when people think there are players in top-flight football who are gay but afraid to come out.
Greg Clarke, from the FA, made stupid comments saying he wouldn’t recommend a player coming out.
That is utter rubbish and really infuriated all the players I know. And I know a lot! Footballers aren’t homophobic.
The players DO NOT care if their team-mates are gay, that is such an old-fashioned way of thinking.
As long as they are good in the group, and can play, that’s it.