Real Madrid face off against Malaga on Sunday in an attempt to win the La Liga title. While Madrid will be gunning to avoid defeat in order to secure their first title since 2012, it will come at a cost. Here’s why Real Madrid will have to pay Malaga 1 Million euros if they win the league against them this weekend.
Isco Alarcon transferred to Madrid from Malaga in 2013, and soon became a fan favorite. Isco’s silky-smooth dribbling, impressive shooting, and nearly limitless tenacity made fans both in the Bernabéu and stadiums across Spain sing out the name of “Isco! Isco! Isco!”
The transfer cost Madrid 27 million euros, plus bonuses. Given just how impressive Isco has been to Madrid since his arrival, and how inflated the transfer market is in general, that seems like a steal.
But Madrid may not be done paying for Isco just yet. One of the bonuses included in Isco’s contract has not yet been activated, but could be on Sunday as Madrid attempt to win the league against none other than Isco’s former Andalusian club.
If Real Madrid avoid defeat against Malaga, they will claim the La Liga title. However, that also means they will be forced to pay Malaga a 1 million euro bonus. Since Real Madrid have not won the league since 2012, the year before Isco came to Madrid, that clause has not yet been activated.
On the face of it, this creates some ethical issues surrounding the final match day of the league. Technically, Malaga now have a financial incentive to not defeat Real Madrid on the last match day.
However, there is no way either club could have known it would come down to this when the clause was established.
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Also, it’s not like these financial bonuses change the amount of money the players themselves earn, figures which are already dictated in their contracts. Even if the club will see extra cash flood their coffers, that doesn’t mean the players will.
Additionally, if past precedence is any indication, Malaga don’t take these bonuses seriously when it comes to their on-the-pitch performances. The same bonus was still at play in 2016, but it didn’t stop Malaga from taking points off of Madrid in both of their matches that season.
In short, Malaga’s players and coaches are professionals. Malaga may stand to benefit if Madrid win the league on Sunday, but don’t expect the Malaga squad to go easy on Madrid as a result.