Perry Groves believes that it makes complete sense for West Ham United striker Marko Arnautovic to leave for China.
The centre-forward was the subject of a bid from a Chinese club according to Sky Sports – which has since been knocked back by the Hammers – and Groves believes that the financial incentive would definitely persuade the Irons star to leave.
He added that it would be impossible for the Austrian to turn down such huge amounts of money – £250,000-a-week – and said that he is not the type of player who wants to stay at the club in the hope of winning a trophy one day.
“If he was 32, people would go, yeah I can understand it, you know, at 32-33 years of age, you go to China for a massive pay day. Because he is 29, people say, well he’s at his peak, he’s West Ham’s best player, joint top scorer,” he said on Jim White’s talkSPORT slot.
“If he did go to China, he would be on £250,000-a-week – £39 million a year. That’s a difference in three years of £22 million. I don’t care what anybody else says, I don’t care who you are, you are not turning down £22 million.
“No, obviously not,” he said when ask by White whether he would stay and win a trophy, “he doesn’t, because he is not Mark Noble who loves West Ham Football Club, who is actually worried about West Ham Football Club. Himself and his brother are looking at and going, that’s £22 million.”
“At West Ham he’d earn £17m in next 3 years, in China he’d earn £39m.”
“I don’t care what anybody says, you ain’t turning down £22million.” 💰
Perry Groves says it makes sense for Marko Arnautović to leave #WHUFC. pic.twitter.com/7ehFomogWs
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) January 11, 2019
OPINION
West Ham fans will no doubt be raging after hearing this from Groves. He is practically justifying why it is okay for Arnautovic to leave the club at a time when the supporters do not want him to leave. Him leaving would have a detrimental effect, and all Groves has justified it with is the amount of money he could potentially receive if he moved there. Yes, that does make sense – anybody would be tempted by a huge financial gain – but would he really want to play in a little-known league just to get a big pay day? West Ham may not be one of the favourites for a trophy at the moment, but he is currently playing in what most people regard as the best league in the world. He should make the most of that, as some players only dream of playing in the Premier League. If it is more money that he wants, then China is the perfect place for him to move – if money is not his motivation, then he must stay put with the Hammers.
