Oguchi Onyewu Extends Contract With AC Milan – And Will Now Play For Free

Chris Wright

17th, May 2010

9 Comments

By Chris Wright

AC Milan’s American defender Oguchi Onyewu (you may remember him from his brief stint on loan at Newcastle United in 2007) has extended his current deal with the Rossoneri by a further year, and has confirmed that he is to receive no wages during that period.

Onyewu made absolutely no appearances for Milan in the 2009/10 season after suffering a serious knee injury whilst on international duty with the U.S last October.

Many sources in Italy were speculating that Milan would release the 28-year-old centre-back over the summer, but he has now signed a one-year wageless contract in a bid to repay the faith that the club have shown in him.

A statement made this morning by AC Milan reads;

“Onyewu, who has been out for virtually the whole season due to injury, but who at this time is getting ready to face the World Cup adventure in South Africa with his national team, has become a star today with a significant gesture from a personal and professional standpoint.

Onyewu has requested and obtained a contract extension from 30 June 2012 until 30 June 2013. With respect to that year, as was his wish, which has been appreciated by the club, Onyewu has asked not to receive any type of wages. This is an exemplary gesture that deserves our sincere congratulations.”

Exemplary? Or just very, very desperate?

Posted in Serie A

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9 Comments

  1. Spenser says:

    Exemplary.

  2. Ty says:

    Exemplary. Best of luck to him.

  3. Conor says:

    Definitely exemplary.

  4. Conor says:

    Definitely exemplary, shame he’s not much good…..

  5. kritter says:

    In between. It’s not like he wouldn’t get a job somewhere else, he’s a good defender. But I’m sure he’d like to stay in Milan seeing as how it’s one of the biggest clubs on earth, and I don’t think he’d be there if he demanded wages.

    Nice to see that a little loyalty is possible in this day and age though.

  6. M.Garcia says:

    Overwhelmingly Exemplary. Bullshit about not getting a job somewhere else. MLS…still a fertile breeding ground for the has-beens, never were’s, and in-betweens. Although I’d argue Gooch has at least 15 years with the club before he’s considered over the hill. So the future still yet may hold success for the lad. All sarcasm aside, this is a fantastic gesture and he should be commended not made fun of by cheeky bastards like me.

  7. Adam says:

    Desperate I think. Whilst admirable I think this really is an opportunity to remain at a European giant and further establish his reputation after poor stints at Newcastle and now an unfortunate injury hit spell at AC Milan.

    Good luck to the lad, he has talent and should be seen at World Cup 2010.

  8. Grant says:

    He did actually play one game for Milan, though. In the UEFA Champions League group stage against Zurich, he came on for like 20 minutes of garbage time. Not that this changes much, but he did actually play this year.

  9. Meji says:

    They paid his wages all last year. He didn’t play. So this year he gets to play for one of the best teams in the world, surrounded by the best players in the world, in the best competitions in the world, for free.

    I’d pay for that opportunity. He got paid last year and didn’t play, rather than being a pompous prick and demanding money, he says I’ll pay free. Sure he can get a decent contract elsewhere, but it sure as hell won’t be the same caliber football as A.C. Milan

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