FORMER Juventus financial chief Stefano Bertola has revealed what the lowest paid player at the club earns, according to reports.
The Italian club remain under investigation for a capital gains scandal that saw them deducted 15 points in Serie A last month.
Intercepted voice calls between key men within the club’s hierarchy have been used as evidence in the investigation.
Alleged quotes from some of Juve’s top men have been leaked by Italian paper Corriere della Sera.
One damning remark comes from former head of finance Bertola, who slammed Juventus’ wage structure.
He is claimed to have said: “Our worst player earns like Atalanta’s best. (Duvan) Zapata takes €1.8 million (£1.6m).
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“If we bought a dog we would give him €3.5 million (£3.1m).”
Juve chief Federico Cherubini, who had his resignation rejected by the Serie A club in November, is also alleged to have complained about star player Federico Chiesa’s supposed demands.
In a call made to former Juve chairman Andrea Agnelli in August 2021, Cherubini is claimed to have suggested that they would not be able to keep hold of Chiesa for a long time.
He is reported to have said: “Chiesa’s entourage are very much looking for substantial economic increases.”
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Fabio Paratici, who left Juventus to join Tottenham in 2021, is said to have bemoaned the Italians’ shift in the transfer market – pointing to a specific move.
He reportedly said: “We were arrogant in the market.
“Because Fabio from five years ago does not take Higuain at €90million (£80m), he takes Gabriel Jesus at €10million (£9m) and turns him into a €90million player.”
Paratici, 50, was handed a two-and-half-year ban from the game by Italian authorities last month after being found guilty of orchestrating a transfer scam over three seasons.
The FA have so far not been made to enforce the ban in England, allowing Tottenham’s managing director of football to continue his work at Spurs.
In addition to Agnelli, Pavel Nedved resigned from his post at Juventus in November – as well as board members Laurence Debroux, Massimo Della Ragione, Katryn Fink, Daniela Marilungo, Francesco Roncaglio, Giorgio Tacchia and Suzanne Keywood.
Following their points deduction Juve find themselves languishing in 12th in the Serie A table.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
