Having had a tough early life - he had to quit football and work in a factory to support his family when he was a teenager - Gilberto could easily have turned into another money grabber. But the man's innate quality (and sensibleness) shines through. Well said sir and good luck with your new start in Greece. :bow:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...ootballers.htmlGilberto backs Ryan Giggs' view of 'mercenary' Premier League footballers
Gilberto, arguably the most successful Brazilian import to English football, has backed Ryan Giggs' view that too many footballers are selling their soul to the highest bidder.
By Wayne Veysey in Stuttgart
Last Updated: 1:20AM BST 30 Jul 2008
Greed is not good: Gilberto, formerly of Arsenal, has hit out at players who transfer clubs purely in search of a bigger pay packet Photo: Getty Images
The Brazil international, who moved to Panathinaikos this month after six years at Arsenal, agrees that players are over-eager to demand lucrative new contracts and engineer transfers before winning any silverware.
“When you win things, you achieve more than anybody else. You get better contracts, and more money, anyway,” Gilberto told The Daily Telegraph.
“I can’t blame a player who wants a good contract. But I believe if they stay at the club, they can earn good money and do a lot for the club and themselves. So if they win something, it means more and they are more appreciated by supporters.”
Giggs hit out at greedy players who “change teams for 10 grand” and claimed that foreign players show less loyalty because they “have their home somewhere else, so they’re going to have their eyes on going back”.
Mathieu Flamini and Alexander Hleb negotiated hefty pay rises after leaving this summer and Emmanuel Adebayor’s future is in doubt because of his demands for an improved contract.
Gilberto, who moved to Greece after losing his place last season, believes Flamini and Hleb will regret leaving the club prematurely. “I don’t know what the reason is for them leaving but they could have stayed. If it’s for money, I would think they’re wrong. “Most of the players who leave miss the club for lots of reasons. The lifestyle at Arsenal is fantastic. You get so well looked after.”
Adebayor could make his first pre-season appearance in tonight’s friendly at Stuttgart. William Gallas could also be involved and Arsene Wenger has hinted that he will stick with him as captain after admitting that he had to shoulder too much of the leadership burden at times last season.
“I think he has done quite well last year, for the biggest part of the season, and a lot of responsibility has been given to him when it wasn’t right,” the Arsenal manager said.
Arsenal’s tour has been low-key and Wenger said
they would resist offers of gruelling, long-distance trips. “I like not to travel too much. I feel in pre-season it’s important that we don’t go as far. It suits us quite well, especially with players coming in late.”