Messi hits out at Barcelona vice-president

The prolific attacker has slammed the Blaugrana director for his lack of knowledge about the game and has defended the work of his charity

Lionel Messi has hit out at Barcelona vice-president Javier Faus in the wake of the latter's comments that the Argentina international will not be offered an improved deal any time soon.

A number of recent reports suggested that the prolific attacker had requested a pay-rise which would make him the best-paid player in La Liga again, prompting Faus to stress that Barca have no intention to hand Messi a new deal hardly a year after his previous extension.

However, Messi has insisted that he never asked for a new deal and has hit out at Faus for his lack of football knowledge.

"Faus is a person who does not know anything about football," Messi told RAC1. 

"He tries to run Barcelona like a business, but this is a football club. Barcelona are the best club in the world and should also have the best directors in the world.

"I have never asked for a new contract and neither has any of my representatives."

The 26-year-old also took the time to discuss recent allegations that his foundation is involved in a money laundering scandal and stressed that he has not done anything wrong.

"I haven't read anything myself, but my family has told me what's being said. I deeply regret these allegations because everything we earn with these games goes to charity."

Messi is currently recovering from a hamstring injury in Argentina.

How Wenger & Arsenal staged Ozil coup

Goal Transfer List 2013: It took a series of private meetings and a huge fee for the Gunners to smash their transfer record and pull off one of the year's most surprising deals

SPECIAL REPORT
By Wayne Veysey

Should a film ever be made about some of the key events in Arsenal’s recent history, true authenticity could only be achieved by including Totteridge as an on-set location.

The leafy lanes of this north London suburb have long been home to manager Arsene Wenger and, when the Frenchman is keen to conduct important club business away from prying eyes, invitations are made to visit his gated mansion. 

HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO ARSENAL'S SUMMER TRAVAILS
GONZALO HIGUAIN | REAL MADRID
	Had agreed wages with the Real Madrid striker, but refused the meet the club's demands. Joined Napoli instead.
LUIS SUAREZ | LIVERPOOL
	Had a long-running interest in the Liverpool striker and tabled an offer, but the Reds held onto their man.
MAROUANE FELLAINI | EVERTON
	Tabled a €25.75m offer in June but soon abandoned their interest in the Belgian, who joined Man United on deadline day.
ANGEL DI MARIA | REAL MADRID
	Hoped to pick up a player set to leave the Bernabeu, but Di Maria decided to stay and fight for his place.
KARIM BENZEMA | REAL MADRID
	Registered an interest in the Frenchman, who was quick to dismiss rumours that he could leave the Bernabeu.

When David Dein was forced out of Arsenal by a boardroom coup, his first port of call was Wenger’s family house. When Robin van Persie opened fresh contract talks with the club at the start of the summer he joined Manchester United, the first meeting was convened in Wenger’s front room. 

Furthermore, when Arsenal closed in on the biggest signing in their history, the deal was sealed chez Wenger.

It was to Totteridge, rather than Emirates Stadium, Arsenal’s London Colney training ground or a neutral hotel, that Mesut Ozil was summoned to put the finishing touches to his stunning €50 million move from Real Madrid.

Speaking about Arsenal’s club-record signing in November, Wenger said: “The first contact happened at my place, for discretion. He (Ozil) came to my house and he decided quickly. He decided in 24 hours.”

It is understood that the decisive meeting took place in the week that preceded the closure of the summer transfer window.

In a cloak-and-dagger manner not uncommon in marquee transfer deals (who can forget Dimitar Berbatov being whisked to Old Trafford from Manchester airport under a blanket in Sir Alex Ferguson’s car?), Arsenal had kept their move for Ozil shrouded in secrecy.

After reaching a verbal agreement with the club at Wenger’s house, Ozil visited the Gunners’ training base to undergo the first phase of his medical.

Arsenal are a club who always prefer to do their business far away from the public spotlight, and, in a bid not to alert rivals Tottenham to Ozil’s potential arrival at Emirates Stadium, there was logic behind the need for a covert operation.

Frustrated by Spurs dragging their feet in the final stages of negotiations for Gareth Bale, Real agreed a deal that would end with Ozil moving to London almost immediately after he was replaced at the Bernabeu.

In addition to allowing Ozil to hold talks with Arsenal in London, it is understood that Real chiefs had reached an agreement with Emirates officials that Ozil would not play for the Spanish side in their league match against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, September 1, the day before the window closed.

Real could not give the formal consent for Ozil to leave Madrid until they had completed the €100m world-record purchase of Bale, which was finally confirmed at 20:00CET on the Sunday.

The Madrid hierarchy had been disappointed at what they regarded as Tottenham unnecessarily stalling the final stages of negotiations for Bale. They suspected that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy delayed pushing the button on the deal so that Arsenal could not register Ozil, or any other Real big-hitter, in time for the north London derby on that Sunday, which Wenger’s team went on to win 1-0.

The Gunners had turned their attention to Ozil after failing to land a number of primary targets – including Luis Suarez, Gonzalo Higuain and Marouane Fellaini - and learning in early August that Bale had agreed in principle his move to Spain. Wenger knew that a stellar Real player would have to be sold to part-fund Bale’s arrival.

Wenger responded to Arsenal’s disastrous 3-1 opening-day Premier League defeat to Aston Villa by sanctioning moves for Ozil and Angel Di Maria. The Gunners also made an enquiry for Karim Benzema although the latter was always regarded as an unlikely signing due to the domino of transfers that needed to fall.

Real indicated that both Ozil and Di Maria were potentially available for sale as they attempted to trim costs and free up space in their team for Bale.


Turnaround | Ozil's arrival sparked a reversal in Arsenal's fortunes
Arsenal tabled a bid of around €30 million for Di Maria and a formal offer for Ozil, who had reacted to being substituted by Carlo Ancelotti during the 1-0 win at Granada on August 26 by storming down the tunnel and onto the team bus. 

GOAL TRANSFER LIST 2013

Throughout this week, Goal will give you the inside track on the 10 biggest transfers of the past year

Concerned about being frozen out of the Real team in the season leading up to the 2014 World Cup and attracted to the idea of being the marquee player at Arsenal, Ozil was convinced in discussions with Wenger about making the move to London.

Goal exclusively revealed on September 1 that Arsenal were in advanced discussions with Real to sign Ozil on the day that he played no part in the Spanish team’s lunchtime league win over Bilbao.

After a fee which would nearly triple Arsenal’s transfer record had been agreed with Real on Sunday night, the Gunners began formally negotiating personal terms with the player’s representatives.

The plan had been for Ozil to fly back to London on Monday and undergo his medical, but this was complicated by the requirement of his presence in Munich to film a television commercial with the German national team ahead of two World Cup qualifiers.

Given that the 25-year-old had already undergone primary examinations, Arsenal were content for him to complete his medical tests under the eye of the Bayern Munich and Germany team doctor Hans-Muller Wolfhart.

The terms of a five-year contract worth €155,000-a-week, which comfortably made Ozil Arsenal’s highest earner, were agreed on the afternoon of transfer deadline-day, leaving only the formalities of the deal to be completed before he was announced as the marquee signing the supporters had been waiting all summer for

Love and money: How Napoli trumped Arsenal to sign Higuain from Real Madrid

Goal Transfer List 2013: After seven seasons in Spain, the Argentina striker joined Rafa Benitez's revolution, just days after he seemed set on a move to the Gunners

SPECIAL REPORT
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Writer

The deal was close to completion. Gonzalo Higuain was set on a move to Arsenal, with the Gunners close to finalising a fee with Real Madrid and wages all agreed. But as Arsene Wenger wavered, Napoli pounced.

Furious fans of the North London club vented their anger. Already deep into the transfer window, Arsenal had failed to sign a single elite player and, in the meantime, rivals Tottenham were spending big. How could they miss out on what had looked like a done deal?

Wenger was keen on Higuain, but played hardball over the striker's valuation (offering just over €27 million when Madrid wanted more) and continued to keep an eye on other objectives. Distracted by the possibility of recruiting top target Luis Suarez from Liverpool, a move for the Argentine was put on ice - and Higuain soon suspected he may be better off elsewhere. 

Because this was precisely what the 26-year-old was so keen to avoid. At Real Madrid, Higuain was forced to fight for his place from the very beginning. And while that role was accepted by the fresh-faced 19-year-old who arrived from River Plate in January of 2007, the striker grew tired at a lack of opportunities and was set to leave after Madrid's title triumph in 2011-12 - having competed all season for the starting spot with Karim Benzema.
 

HIGUAIN'S TRANSFER - A TIMELINE
PLAYS LAST GAME FOR REAL MADRID
JUN 1st	Higuain plays his last competitive game for Madrid and tells reporters: "I will leave this summer..."
'MADRID NEVER RESPECTED HIM'
JUN 7th	Higuain's father says Madrid never respected his son and claims he will choose a club that shows affection.
ARSENAL & JUVENTUS IN CONTACT
JUN 11th	Arsenal make an enquiry, while Juve way up a bid. Florentino Perez warns: "€30m is a waste of time..."
GUNNERS CLOSE IN ON THE STRIKER
JUN 21st	Arsenal agree €135,000-per-week wages with the striker and fly to Madrid to finalise a deal.
JUVENTUS SIGN TEVEZ, PULL OUT OF RACE
JUN 26th	Juventus sign Carlos Tevez and pull out of the race to buy Higuain. Talks with Arsenal are advanced.
ARSENAL BID €27M, BUT CHASE SUAREZ
JUL 4th	Negotiations continue and Arsenal offer €27m for Higuain, but begin to chase Liverpool's Luis Suarez.
REDS REJECT SUAREZ OFFER
JUL 15th	Liverpool reveal they have rejected an offer of just over €40m for Suarez and say the Uruguayan will stay.
NAPOLI ENTER RACE FOR PIPITA
JUL 21st	After signing Albiol and Callejon, Napoli enter the race to sign Higuain; Arsenal chase Suarez
MADRID & NAPOLI AGREE €37M FEE
JUL 23st	Napoli agree a €37m fee for Higuain after their first offer of €35m was turned down. Arsenal miss out.

Higuain wore a shirt signed by all of his Madrid team-mates as the club celebrated their Liga success at the Cibeles fountain in May 2012. It was his way of saying goodbye, but the support of the fans during the party at the Bernabeu and a chat with Jose Mourinho early in the summer convinced Pipita to stay.

Mourinho stayed true to his word and handed Higuain more opportunities at the beginning of last season, but the team started slowly and soon found themselves well off the pace in La Liga. As the season wore on, the striker grew frustrated once again and made a definitive decision to leave after he was booed by his own fans when coming off with the scores still goalless in Real's 2-0 Champions League victory at home to Borussia Dortmund. That night, Madrid had needed to win by three and Higuain had missed a wonderful chance early in the game, when Mourinho's men had been so desperate for an opening goal.

The Argentine was met with timid applause in what would be his final competitive game for the club, at home to Osasuna, and revealed afterwards that his mind was made up. "I would like to go somewhere where I feel I am truly loved and appreciated," he said.

At Arsenal, he suspected that may not be the case and the Gunners' dallying allowed Napoli to enter the race for his signature. New coach Rafa Benitez had already paid good money for Madrid pair Raul Albiol (€12m) and Jose Callejon (€10m) and talks soon started over the Argentina forward, as the Spaniard sought a replacement for Paris-Saint Germain-bound Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani.

Benitez, Albiol and Callejon are all represented by Spanish agent Manuel Garcia Quilon and that connection facilitated further negotiations with Madrid as Napoli stole a march on Arsenal for two further reasons: firstly, the Italians' interest in Higuain was definite, with Benitez keen to make him an integral part of the club's new project; secondly, they were willing to pay more money.

Needing funds to finance a world-record move for Gareth Bale, Madrid president Florentino Perez was keen to recoup the cash quickly. And the more the better. Napoli offered €35m and then €37m - and the deal was soon done. The three sales, plus the deadline-day departure of Mesut Ozil to Arsenal (who did act fast and firmly this time) provided the funds for Florentino to sign the Welshman from Tottenham.

Ozil's arrival appeased Arsenal fans and the Gunners have enjoyed a superb start to the season, but the fading form of Olivier Giroud has highlighted the need for a top-class striker like Higuain. Madrid, meanwhile, look strong with Benzema in the side after the Frenchman overcame a difficult few weeks at the start of the current campaign, when he was targeted by the Bernabeu boo-boys.

Napoli's total outlay of €88.3m over five years, as highlighted in the Goal Transfer List 2013, includes €30m in wages but already looks a price well worth paying for the Serie A side, despite elimination in the Champions League group stages as Arsenal and Dortmund advanced in the competition's most difficult sector.

"There is no [Diego] Maradona [at Napoli]," Benitez said recently. "Our team is based on the collective, although Higuain is perhaps the most essential player here right now. He doesn't only score goals, he also makes the team play better."

Wenger, meanwhile, has moved on and claimed he does not regret losing out on Pipita. "Higuain is in good hands and he is a great striker, but we have Giroud who is also a great striker," he said last week.

As the title race develops and, with Bayern Munich ahead in the Champions League, however, the Frenchman may yet rue his Higuain hesitation.

So while Madrid were unable to persuade the striker to stay this time and Arsenal delayed, Napoli knew just what they would be getting with the Argentine - and exactly how to get him. Love and money.

The Dossier: Why Wenger has never beaten Mourinho

The Special One will be protecting a proud record of nine matches undefeated against his French counterpart when the London rivals meet again at Emirates Stadium

COMMENT
By Peter Staunton

Time is a healer. Arsene Wenger has forgiven Jose Mourinho for calling him a "voyeur" but there is a guarantee that the Special One's run of results against the Frenchman rankle worse than any words spoken against him. 

Wenger has been forced to watch on impotently as Chelsea assembled squads of ready-made talent - sometimes at the expense of his own beloved enterprise. 

The Chelsea way, flying in the face of Financial Fair Play, is anathema to what Wenger and Arsenal represents - namely fiscal responsibility and nurturing talent from underage levels to the first-team. But such things do not decide football matches or titles and, in that respect, the Chelsea way has trumped Wenger's prudent, long-term sustainability. 

WENGER VS MOURINHO
CAPITAL ONE CUP OCTOBER 2013
	ARSENAL	0-2	CHELSEA
PREMIERSHIP MAY 2007
	ARSENAL	1-1	CHELSEA
CARLING CUP FEBRUARY 2007
	CHELSEA	2-1	ARSENAL
PREMIERSHIP DECEMBER 2006
	CHELSEA	1-1	ARSENAL
PREMIERSHIP DECEMBER 2005
	ARSENAL	0-2	CHELSEA
PREMIERSHIP AUGUST 2005
	CHELSEA	1-0	ARSENAL
COMMUNITY SHIELD AUGUST 2005
	CHELSEA	2-1	ARSENAL
PREMIERSHIP APRIL 2005
	CHELSEA	0-0	ARSENAL
PREMIERSHIP DECEMBER 2004
	ARSENAL	2-2	CHELSEA

If ever a game typified the contrasting approaches of Arsene Wenger's Arsenal and Jose Mourinho's Chelsea it was the 2007 League Cup final. On one side was a team, largely forged in-house, with the outfield players averaging under 21 years of age. 

On the other, a formidable unit of full-international talent. Big-money buys like Ricardo Carvalho, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Michael Essien, Andrei Shevchenko and Didier Drogba competed against Justin Hoyte, Armand Traore, Philippe Senderos, Abou Diaby and Jeremie Aliadiere. 

Inevitably it was the Ivorian Drogba who decided the match in Chelsea's favour on a simmering afternoon which brought three red cards and a mass brawl at the final whistle. "For long periods we were the better team but the regrets we have are that we should have put that game beyond Chelsea," Wenger said in what was to become a familiar refrain. "They had a bit more experience and Drogba made the difference."

In the end, it boils down to the question of philosophy. Arsene Wenger, has until now, refused to waver on his. And his poison, which so long held English football in thrall, met the antidote in Chelsea. 

A vital psychological hurdle was overcome in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2004 when Wayne Bridge's late winner saw the Gunners off to end Chelsea's long streak without winning against Arsenal. That result, Roman Abramovich's cash and the subsequent appointment of Jose Mourinho meant Arsenal's star was falling as Chelsea's was rising. 

Under Mourinho, both clubs continued on that trajectory. Chelsea, through rampant investment and Mourinho, became one of Europe's strongest clubs - swaggering through and dominating the English football landscape. 

Arsenal were no longer the primary rivals of Manchester United. It was now Chelsea. Arsenal became also-rans, a feeder club at times, and not contenders for the serious trophies. Their inadequacies were played out on the field and were pronounced in the matches against Chelsea. Arsenal were exploited by Mourinho. Their deficiencies magnified. They were bullied, harassed, beaten. 

While Arsenal were blooding new players - best exemplified in that League Cup final defeat in 2007 - Mourinho was packing his side with huge signings and had even more in reserve. 

Often, Chelsea played a very simple game against Arsenal - tackle hard, defend deep, cede possession and hit on the break. Their competitive record against Arsenal under Mourinho in his first spell in charge was very impressive: Four wins and four draws. 

It was a template that they strayed from when Luiz Felipe Scolari, Carlo Ancelotti and Andre Villas-Boas were in charge and they were punished with defeats. Crucially for Villas-Boas in his 3-5 home defeat he could not count on Didier Drogba, who was suspended. 

Because, more often than not it was Drogba who had his say against Arsenal, scoring 13 times in 14 matches overall. If Chelsea could coax a performance from Drogba in these fixtures, they generally came out on top. 

"I don’t know how much Chelsea miss him but we don't miss him. He did a lot of damage against us in every game," Wenger said after Drogba scored last summer in the Emirates Cup in London. 

Arsenal and their vulnerability from dead-ball situations were exploited right from the off by Chelsea under Mourinho. A 2-2 draw at Highbury kept Chelsea five points clear of their title rivals in December 2004.
"We suffered from set pieces," Wenger said on the night. "But we had some young players out there and we were too small as a unit."

Their next clash, in April 2005, was a 0-0 draw which delayed Chelsea's title-winning party. Chelsea set out to frustrate their guests, defending in numbers, absorbing pressure and keeping their structures intact. It typified Chelsea's season - the football was not electrifying but a 23rd clean sheet of the season set them on course for thr title. 

Enter Drogba.

After a subdued first season with the Blues, Drogba was about to embark on his quest to become one of the world's most feared strikers. The Community Shield, 2005, Drogba's double downed Arsenal. Direct passes to Drogba unsettled Arsenal. Claude Makelele was exceptional, smothering Arsenal's attacks and protecting what was a deep blanket defence. 

"Chelsea were dangerous with the long ball. They do it very well," Wenger said. "It's a fact that Drogba likes the high balls and they gave us a hard time."

It was Drogba again who was the thorn in the Arsenal side later in August 2005. An uninspiring contest with a lack of clear-cut chances saw Chelsea grind out another win, bringing their undefeated streak to 31 matches. It was their first Premier League win over Arsenal in 10 years. A lucky goal from Drogba, on as a substitute, was the difference between the side on the day. 

	ARSENAL LATEST
11/8	Arsenal are 11/8 with Bet365 to beat Chelsea on Monday

Wenger said: "We had enough possession to score goals but we just missed something; we need to be more efficient." Same old story.

On December 18, 2005, Chelsea restored a nine-point lead in the table and all but ended Arsenal's title hopes. The Gunners lost their third game in succession, failed to score in four running, and were left in ninth at the close of play, 20 points behind Chelsea. It was an elbow on Lauren by Michael Essien that was the talking point of this 2-0 victory courtesy of Joe Cole and an increasingly influential Arjen Robben. 

"Essien was a straight red in my opinion," said Wenger. "He did not play the ball, he played the player."

Ashley Cole's transfer to Chelsea from Arsenal brought another element of acrimony to an already tempestuous fixture and he made his first appearance against the Gunners in a 1-1 draw in December 2006. Arsenal played all the football in this one but familiar failings as they could not convert their possession to goals. Mathieu Flamini gave them a late lead before Michael Essien drove home a terrific strike to equalise. The game was memorable due to chief protagonist Didier Drogba's set-to with Jens Lehmann. 

"Because of the way they controlled the game in the first half, I am happy to settle for a draw," Mourinho said after. "In the first half, they controlled possession and played with more quality and confidence but I don't remember a single shot." 

A stop-start, disjointed game, then decided the fate of the Premier League title in the favour of Manchester United for the first time since 2003. Gilberto Silva scored a penalty after Khalid Boulahrouz was sent off for a foul on Julio Baptista but it was Michael Essien who scored the leveller in the second half. 

The last time the teams met it was a routine victory for Jose Mourinho, suggesting that his dominance over Wenger will continue. Spaniards Cesar Azpilicueta and Juan Mata struck once each to comdemn Arsenal to an early League Cup exit in October of this year. 

Where once there was rancour there is now geniality. 

"Wenger is a nice guy, Mourinho said upon his return to England. "I respect him a lot. I believe that he feels the same in relation to me. I would bet there is not one single problem between us." 

No problem other than Wenger cannot win against him

Casillas' annus horribilis

12/20/2013

• Print
• Send

Iker Casillas pulled on his gloves for the last time in 2013, a year he would prefer to forget. The club captain played his final game of the year against Olímpic de Xàtiva. He will not play another competitive match until 9th January 2014 against Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabéu.

However, before going on holiday, the World Cup winner will travel to Mestalla, where his relationship with Mourinho broke after the injury he suffered when Arbeloa accidentally kicked him.

That broken hand led to Diego López's arrival at Real Madrid and to Casillas being benched. It was Mou's second attempt to force Casillas out of the starting XI having failed to do so previously with Adán in Malaga, exactly a year ago to the day on Sunday.

Despite fully recovering, Casillas did not play another competitive game for Real Madrid during that 2012/13 season. The keeper endured Mou’s attacks without confronting him publicly, counting down the days until the Portuguese stepped down as first-team coach, and with the Confederations Cup looming on the horizon.

He has always been looked after and well respected in Spain's international set-up. Del Bosque put his trust in the keeper who had helped Spain to two European Championships and a World Cup. It was there that he felt significant again, playing three matches, including the semi-final and the final, the latter being the only game he has lost with Spain.

Balcony collapses in London theatre

Initial reports suggest some injured after accident during performance of Curious Incident of Dog in Night-time

A rescue operation is under way after part of a balcony in the Apollo theatre in London's West End is thought to have collapsed during a performance, trapping people inside.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said there were "multiple casualties".

Officers said they were called to the theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue shortly after 8.15pm.

It is believed some people may have been injured in the collapse, which occurred during a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.

Eyewitnesses said they saw people being escorted out of the building, covered in dust and debris.

Halfway through the first half of the performance, part of the balcony started creaking before a section of the theatre collapsed. Audience members assumed the noise was part of the show.

People left the building crying, coughing and helping each other away. Many were trying to make contact with family members as some were still trapped inside the building.

One 29-year-old, who would only give his name as Ben, said: "It was about halfway through the first half of the show and there was a lot of creaking.

"We thought it was part of the scene, it was a seaside scene, but then there was a lot of crashing noise and part of the roof caved in. There was dust everywhere, everybody's covered in dust.

"We got out fairly quickly, I think everyone was quite panicked."

A 38-year-old said: "We were in the stalls. It's a balcony that's come off. Some of the structure's come down."

Police were on the scene within minutes and began cordoning off the theatre.

London Fire Brigade confirmed that eight fire engines had been sent to the scene.

Martin Bostock, who was in the audience at the Grade II listed theatre with his family, said he suffered a head injury after he was hit by falling debris.

He told Sky News: "I was in the lower stalls with my family in the early stages of the show. It was just terrifying and awful.

"I think the front part of the balcony fell down. At first we thought it was part of the show. Then I got hit on the head."

"It was complete chaos in the theatre. Absolutely terrifying and awful. We got out with cuts and bruises. I think most people did."

Walking wounded were taken from the scene in ambulances as a team of firefighters rushed through the front stage door in Archer Street.

Some were taken to the nearby White Horse pub, while others were taken from the scene to be reunited with friends and family members.

Simon Usborne, a writer for the Independent newspaper, said there was a "cloud" of dust obscuring the stage after parts of masonry appeared to fall away.

He said: "There was panic, there was screaming."

He added that there did not appear to be any sign of damage from the outside of the theatre.

Top 10: Highest paid managers in the world

10. Manuel Pellegrini (Man City)
Pay packet: €4.16m

9. Jurgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund)
Pay Packet: €4.3 million

8. Gerardo Martino (Barcelona)
Pay Packet: €5.4 million

7. David Moyes (Man Utd)
Pay Packet: €5.9 million

6. Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)
Pay Packet: €7.5 million

5. Fabio Capello (Russia)
Pay Packet: €7.8 million

4. Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)
Pay Packet: €8.26 million

3. Marcelo Lippi (Guanzhou Evergrande)
Pay Packet: €10 million

2. Jose Mourinho (Chelsea)
Pay Packet: €10.03 million

1. Pep Guardiola (Bayern Munich)
Pay Packet: €17 million