Manchester United hero Gary Neville was stunned when he learned the jaw-dropping amount ex-teammate Wayne Rooney earned during his peak at Old Trafford.
Gary Neville speaks on his podcast.
Gary Neville was left stunned by former teammate Wayne Rooney.
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Gary Neville has jokingly admitted he made a costly blunder by never employing an agent during his own playing career. Neville, 50, became a legend at Manchester United over 19 years in their first-team - playing 600 times and winning 25 trophies.
Loyal to United, the right-back operated without formal representation and instead brought his father along for contract negotiations. Back in 2007, Neville even called for agents to be ousted from football.
But the ex-England coach's mind has been changed after learning what former teammate Wayne Rooney earned when at his peak. "What would your biggest contract have been at United?" Neville asked Rooney on the Stick to Football podcast.
"I was your teammate in 2010-11 on £1.75million, I'm captain."
Rooney, who signed his final United deal in 2014, revealed: "The biggest I've been on is about £17million a year."
A stunned Neville in turn replied: "I think I should've got paid a little bit more (laughs). That's amazing, well done, congratulations... Well done, Paul (Stretford, Rooney's agent).
"Paul, let's have a chat after. I think I need an agent!
"All that stuff I said over the years about not needing an agent - you need a f***ing agent! £17m a year - that's unbelievable, Wazza. Wow!"
Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney chat.
Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney worked together for a total of 11 years.
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During his playing days, though, Neville wasn't a fan of agents. Speaking to the Guardian in 2007, the 50-year-old said: "I'd like to see the removal of agents in the game.
"There is a concern for me and there always has been; 'How a guy can go in and ask for [a player's] wage and then expect to be given hundreds of thousands of pounds and sometimes millions'?"
"In this day and age, I can't personally see it. That money is going out of the game and the clubs should keep that money; if the player's due it, he should keep that money."
As United's PFA representative, Neville also warned young players about the risks of working with agents. "When we have a union as strong as we have, the PFA could help with the correct education of young players and make those players not so reliant on people who want to take money from you," he added.
Having retired from football in 2011, Neville now has multiple sources of income. He's best known as a pundit for Sky Sports and works for ITV during international tournaments.
Neville is also a co-owner of League Two club Salford City. He's also been involved in property development since he was 21.