Lucas Neill to Atletico Madrid?

[Deej]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26021196-29437,00.html

West Ham's Lucas Neill could join Atletico Madrid due to low tax rates
By staff writers
September 03, 2009 West Ham United and Socceroos defender Lucas Neill is close to joining Spanish La Liga side Atletico Madrid due to tax benefits, according to reports in the English press.

The Sun reported that Neill will have half his earnings taxed if he remains in the Barclays Premier League, where the Hammers have offered the Australia captain 1.82 million ($3.55 million) to re-sign.

Atletico Madrid have offered 1.56m a year - 5,000 a week less - but Neill will pocket 338,000 ($659,000) more in Spain as he will only be taxed at 20 per cent.

Britain's new tax rate of 50 per cent for high earners will be implemented next April.

As previously reported by foxsports.com.au, Neill has been at the centre of ongoing speculation over where he will sign his next contract for a number of months, being linked to English clubs Sunderland, Blackburn and Hull.

Neill was also linked to a possible move to Turkish club Galatasaray where he would have linked up with fellow Socceroo Harry Kewell.

The 31-year-old ruled himself out of Australia's friendly against Korea Republic on Saturday night as he is keen to finally settle on a new playing home.

 

[Deej]

I thought it wasn't about the money?

 

[ryan]

Atletico Madrid would be a great move.

 

[Jerem]

I thought it wasn't about the money?

was it ever anything else
no i honestly thought he was searching for the team that needed him most
i think someone needs to give his balloon a jab
this man is making me of late

 

[bjw]

right... it's 'not' about the money- no, not at all...

 

[mariners4ever]

TBF if it was about the money, he wouldve went straight to man city

 

[bjw]

TBF if it was about the money, he wouldve went straight to man city

dont think they offered him a contract? (i could be wrong).

your argument about it not being about money- yeah, right. which is why the article talks about how much extra he will pocket through not paying tax..?

 

[marinersman]

I thought standard practise in Europe was that contract money is net (after tax)?

 

[midfielder]

Great move they are a very decent club ... and somewhere back a while ago I said he would finish up in Spain....

 

[JT]

Better than the hammers. and playing CL football

 

[Azza-Mataz]

with the likes of Maxi Rodriguez, Sergio Aguero, Simao, Luis Garcia! good move IMHO

 

[Arabmariner]

They have a proud history of thugs and hatchet men at the back.

He'll fit in ok.

Look out Ronaldo !

 

[Arabmariner]

I thought standard practise in Europe was that contract money is net (after tax)?

In Italy they talk about it that way but not in the UK.

Dunno about the rest of Europe.

Did the Jest not have a misunderstanding with an Italian a couple of years back over that very issue ?

 

[Forum Phoenix]

TBF if it was about the money, he wouldve went straight to man city

dont think they offered him a contract? (i could be wrong).

your argument about it not being about money- yeah, right. which is why the article talks about how much extra he will pocket through not paying tax..?

If man city had offered him a lucrative contract he would have been there in a heartbeat.

But to be fair to Lucas, he is simply no different to virtually every other professional footballer in this day and age. And wanting more money is just what it is. Lucas wanted a better income before he agreed to sign for a club. So what... certainly not worth disliking one of our best just because he has tried to hold out for the dollars that he thinks he deserves.

He's also passionate about coming back to Aus and contributing to football here and will after most likely making a strong contribution to the world cup next year. So don't let his current transfer debacle cloud your vision too much I say...

Doubt he is at all dissimilar from practically any other socceroo.

 

[tuftman]

Dunno about this one, Atleti ship goals left right and centre and have a habit of shipping goals left right and centre. He'll probably take Heitinga's starting spot, and get UCL football which will do him a world of good, but is he going to be demoralised when they concede large numbers?

 

[typool]

Lucas Neil could end up anywhere. the media is having a field day..
the same could be said for Mark Viduka and the west ham links hahaha
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26025035-29437,00.html

 

[RADINHO]

Lucas is a money making whore. he should have a club and be playing football by now, he is the captain of Australian for farks sake!

 

[Jesus]

Better than the hammers. and playing CL football

You are kidding? Surely he is better off going to spain and learning something new to his football, not just because athletico are a big club either. He will get nothing new out of england, he has been there long enough, playing against different teams, in a different place, that play different styles, where ref's pick focus on different things will only make him a higher quality defender come the world cup.

 

[JT]

Better than the hammers. and playing CL football

You are kidding? Surely he is better off going to spain and learning something new to his football, not just because athletico are a big club either. He will get nothing new out of england, he has been there long enough, playing against different teams, in a different place, that play different styles, where ref's pick focus on different things will only make him a higher quality defender come the world cup.

I agree i think the move would be good, and if he moved he would be playing in the  champions league!

 

[tuftman]

Better than the hammers. and playing CL football

You are kidding? Surely he is better off going to spain and learning something new to his football, not just because athletico are a big club either. He will get nothing new out of england, he has been there long enough, playing against different teams, in a different place, that play different styles, where ref's pick focus on different things will only make him a higher quality defender come the world cup.

But if he wanted to add something to his game in terms of defending, Athletico wouldn't be the place to do it. They've got a very ordinary defense, and he's not exactly going to be the cure for it surely.