The high cost of Amalfitano
The French midfielder left the club yesterday after the club decided to pay him off after a Boleyn stay which rarely hit the heights.
He appeared in the claret and blue 32 times and managed three goals before managing to tick off manager Slaven Bilic soon after the manager’s arrival.
The Hammers bosses had of course hoped that pace could break out between the two but the Croatian boss was having none of that. One day the full story behind the row between the pair may emerge.
There was never going to be a place for the former Marseilles player after that and eventually the board agreed on a pay-off package as they showed total support for their manger.
ClaretandHugh understands the cost of buying Amalfitano out of the last 21 months of his contract was between £2m and £2.5 million.
The chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold will have driven the hardest possible deal but on wages of around £40,000 per week worth up to £3.5m over the 21 months he can be expected to have picked up 70-75 per cent – the usual rule of thumb.
And that suggest a figure of between £2m to £2.5m is now making its way into his bank account!
Nice work if you can get it!