Australia NewsZidane's Bumper Sydney Payday |
ZINEDINE Zidane is set to pick up a staggering US$250,000 pay cheque for his single Sydney appearance.
The French legend is being lined up to take to the Sydney teamsheet for the Harbour City's glamour clash against David Beckham and his LA Galaxy side.Zidane was a surprise late addition to the star-studded line-up... but he is now hoping to bring his former French team-mate Fabien Barthez to the game too.
Now it's been revealed Zidane will be paid a whopping quarter of a million for his 90 minute one-off appearance for Sydney.
It's understood the entire payment will be donated by Zizou to his charity, the Zidane Foundation, however there is very little detail about the institution.
It's not clear if Sydney or the FFA will be picking up the tab for Zidane's appearance.
But Zidane's one-game paypacket is more than twice the transfer fee Sydney received for the sale of David Carney to Sheffield United last month.
Zidane - hailed as the best player of his generation - retired after last year's World Cup when he was sent off in the final for headbutting Italian Marco Materazzi.
The Sydney game will see former Real Madrid team-mates Zidane and Beckham re-united. Barthez also played with Zidane as part of the French World Cup squad. The deal bringing both to Australia is expected to be finalised in Paris this week.
With Juninho in the Sydney line-up, the clash would then see three World Cup winners lining up against Beckham.
However the move to bring Barthez as well has angered some Sydney fans who fear the game will simply be an All-Star XI facing Galaxy instead of a genuine Sydney squad.
Galaxy are now being tipped to move on to play Wellington Phoenix after the Sydney game, but so far there has been no mention of Zidane or Barthez joining the roadshow to New Zealand.
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