EPL 2016/17: Leaks reveal anti-Arsenal clause in Roberto Firmino's contract

Firmino has become one of Liverpool’s best players

According to leaks published by Le Soir, Roberto Firmino has a £82 million release clause attached to his contract that can be triggered by any club barring Arsenal. The Brazilian forward is the latest victim of a spate of leaked documents released by Football Leaks over the past one year. 

Back in 2013, Arsenal had angered Liverpool officials by bidding £40 million + £1 for their player Luis Suarez in the hope that it would trigger the Uruguayan striker’s release clause. At that time, the Reds had their own hilarious response to the attempt when owner John W. Henry sent out a tweet saying, “What do you think they’re smoking over at the Emirates?”

However, it seems now that Liverpool had planned their very own retribution after the incident. The released document which lays out the details of the Brazilian’s contract states that Firmino can be bought for £82 million during the term of his contract as long as “the interested club is not Arsenal.”

Roberto Firmino moved on a long-term deal to Liverpool in June of 2015 from German club Hoffenheim and has proven to be one of the Premier League’s most prolific attackers, playing both on the wings and as a striker. 

In his first season at the club last year, he scored 10 goals in 31 matches cementing his place in the starting line-up under manager Jurgen Klopp. He has scored five goals and made three assists in 13 games so far this season. 

His inspired partnership with fellow attackers Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane has paid excellent dividends allowing the Reds to rise to the third position in the League after what seems like years. 

Firmino isn’t the only Premier League star whose contract details have been released by Football Leaks. According to the same source, details of Toby Alderweireld’s deal with Tottenham Hotspur has also been revealed. 

The Belgian has become a fixture in the back line for Spurs since his arrival but he can be lured away from the club quite easily as his buy-out clause is a meagre £25.4 million. The leaks have also implicated Jorge Mendes’ agency Gestifute and its clients for evading taxes in the countries where they play.

Mesut Ozil, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho have been called out by name but the agency has denied these allegations saying they are innocent of any kind of wrongdoing. 

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