Figo in Contract Dispute with Al Ittihad. Already?
By: Martha | May 28th, 2007
It’s seemed all along that the only way Luis Figo wouldn’t join Al Ittihad next season would be if he broke his contract with the Saudi club, since he signed with them in January, and made a commitment to play there, at least through December. Now, though, according to a second-hand story in La Gazzetta dello Sport, it is Al Ittihad, not Figo, who violated the terms of the deal, and the Portuguese is in the process of extracting himself from the contract. Say what now? What terms could possibly have come up already? Did Al Ittihad promise to send him a truckload of money by May 27, or something? Bags of gold, perhaps?
Whatever the issue, the Spanish and Portuguese press are reporting today that Figo and his People are preparing an appeal to FIFA, presumably asking them to void the contract because of the Saudi club’s “unilateral violation” of the agreement, actions that have damaged the relationship beyond repair. Apparently there’s a official statement from Figo and everything, so this very well might be true — I guess this is what he’s been hinting at late with all those “I do love Inter but … ” statements, huh?
So, what next? If Figo stays at Inter or opts for MLS and joins the Red Bulls (she said in hopeful whisper) I will be delirious with joy — but there are so many damn possibilities I’m afraid to get excited after being jerked around so much. I mean, maybe he’s going back to Sporting. Hell, maybe he’s even retiring. Or, better yet, joining some lowly Portuguese club, where he’ll play just for the pure pleasure of the game! Yeah, I don’t believe that one, either. The point is that we’re in for even more weeks of waiting for Figo to figure out what the hell he’s doing next. I’m telling you, I didn’t love the so much, I’d be pretty damn exasperated right now. No, scratch that — I’m exasperated anyway.
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Tags: Al Ittihad, contract dispute, FIFA, Figo, Inter Milan, Rumors -amp; News, Saudia Arabia, Serie ASubscribe
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Comments
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Typical Figo. I know you love him and all, but ask any cule about Figo and loyalty.
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Yeah, I won’t argue with you there, Nolan — he’s definitely got a bit of the mercenary in him. Of course, that’s part of what makes this so odd — Al Ittihad are set to pay him a mint, so what could Figo’s problem possibly be?
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United States -
And gosh Martha, there you were wondering what you would write about all summer. This alone could make up many posts.
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United States -
So right, Ady! The blog can be all Figo, all the time — of course, no one would ever read it, but I’d be enjoying myself. (:
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