Derby County have been
offered a record-breaking sponsorship deal from their shirt sponsor 32Red, with
the betting company now set to pay new signing Wayne Rooney’s reported
UK£90,000 (US$109,000) weekly wage.
Derby announced earlier
this week they had signed England’s record goalscorer on an 18-month
player-coach deal. Though it has not been confirmed how much of Rooney’s wages
32Red will pay, it was also revealed the 33-year-old will wear number 32 for
Derby, further fuelling the notion that the deal is primarily serving as a
commercial opportunity for 32Red.
Mel Morris, the club’s
owner and Executive Chairman, was quick to acknowledge the commercial interest
Rooney had brought the Championship team.
“Obviously, the
commercial opportunities this creates are widespread and significant,"
Morris said. “On the back of Wayne joining the club, we have just been offered
a record-breaking sponsorship deal with our principal shirt sponsor, 32Red.”
The deal has attracted
criticism, with accusations it makes a mockery of financial fair play (FFP)
rules by essentially allowing bookmakers to directly fund player transfers.
Rooney will reportedly earn around five times the average wage in the English
second-tier.
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