Roy Keane defends Mesut Ozil decision to reject pay cut and insists he would do the same in his position

Ozil is among three pay cut rebels at Arsenal.
Action Images via Reuters
Tony Mogan24 April 2020

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has offered his support to players like Mesut Ozil, insisting he would have refused to take a pay cut if he found himself in the situation Premier League stars are currently faced with.

Arsenal announced pay cuts this week with the Gunners first-team, along with head coach Mikel Arteta and his staff, taking a 12.5 per cent cut.

Chelsea meanwhile are close to finalising a 10 per cent wage cut with their players following successful talks spearheaded by captain Cesar Azpilicueta.

Back at Arsenal however Ozil is believed to be among three players stalling on a pay-cut. The Germany international, who is the club's top-earner on £350,000-a-week, is thought to want more time to assess the full impact of the coronavirus shutdown before committing to a deal.

Keane sympathises with the players left in that position and has urged Premier League starts to stick to their guns.

"There is pressure on players at the really big clubs, clubs with wealthy owners, to take pay cuts," he told Sky Sports.

"The way I look at it now, particularly after the way I left Manchester United, I wouldn't take a pay cut from anybody if I was at one of the bigger clubs.

"I know there is pressure on players, but it is nobody's business what you do with your wages.

"You take your wages and if you want to be generous, go ahead and do it. I don't think players should feel pressured by clubs, particularly the bigger clubs, to take pay cuts.

"They have signed a contract, and your contract with a club is a personal matter. This idea that all players should take a pay cut, or that all the players have to do this, I think that is nonsense. It's up to the individual.

"If they want to stick to their guns and say they want their full wages when you've got a billionaire in the background, do it.

"Don't be swayed by some sort of pressure from the media, who write lies anyway about certain players.

"There is a lot of speculation out there, I don't think anybody should believe anything they are reading about what players are doing.

"I am really surprised at the amount of people jumping on the bandwagon with the criticism of the players, it's nobody's business.

"I'm talking about the top clubs here with the really wealthy owners, obviously the clubs in the other leagues are having to make sacrifices, but the players at the top at clubs that have the money, stick to your guns."

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