PANAJI: When several Indian clubs received a pdf file in their emails, offering them the chance to sign Manchester City legend Yaya Toure, they simply dismissed it.
Most knew that the midfielder who reportedly earned £230,000 (approx. Rs 2.07 crore) a week during his peak at the Etihad won’t come cheap. Harcus Consultancy Group, his South East Asian representative and player endorsement agent, also set the bar high when his price was fixed at $1.5 million (approx. Rs 11.25 crore) for an annual deal.
Later, however, clubs were told that the UEFA Champions League winner is willing to accept one-third of that amount – post-Covid situation in world football – and would settle for offers closer to $500,000 (approx. 3.75 crore).
“We were a bit surprised that a player of his calibre wanted to come to India. We also expected his salary to be quite high, so we didn’t pursue him,” said Ravi Puskur, FC Goa‘s director of football.
FC Goa were not the only side to have been contacted. Bengaluru FC officials received the same proposal. Two other ISL clubs also confirmed that they were contacted, but not much headway was made.