Tevez wage demands 'too much' for PSG

Tevez wage demands 'too much' for Paris Saint-Germain

Sep 28, 2012 5:20:00 PM

The French club wanted to add the Argentina international to their wealth of superstars, but the striker's wage demands were described as 'against the club's philosophy'

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez was close to a move away from the Etihad stadium in January, with Paris Saint-Germain the side that was most likely to secure a deal before wage demands became a stumbling block.

Tevez expressed his desire to leave the club after a bust-up with manager Roberto Mancini during the Champions League game against Bayern Munich last season.

And PSG chairman Nasser al-Khelaifi was ready to secure a deal for the player in January, but wages proved too much, despite the French Ligue 1 side splashing out on AC Milan duo Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the summer.

"If the transfer was not sorted out, it was not because he didn't want to come, but because we didn't accept his wage demands," Al-Khelaifi told Germany's Sportbild.

"He wanted to come. We don't pay too big wages to our players. Last winter Carlos Tevez asked too much and didn't match the club's philosophy. So we refused."

Meanwhile, Al-Khelafi has defended the amount the club has spent on wages, after Bayern Munich chief-executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said that the wages being paid to Ibrahimovic gave him a 'stomach ache'.

"If Karl-Heinze Rummenigge is sick with the wages we offer, he should go and meet a doctor," Al-Khelaifi added.

"We take big care of our expenses. For example, Thiago Silva does not earn one more cent than what he earned at AC Milan. To me, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the best forward in the world."