Giggs rues modern greed

United legend laments those that chase money

Last updated: 29th July 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Giggs rues modern greed

Giggs: One club man

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Ryan Giggs has hit out at the greed in modern football after lamenting those stars that chase money ahead of glory.

The Manchester United winger is very much the exception rather than the rule in today's game, having spent the whole of his career with just one club.

Giggs is both the club's most decorated player and record appearance holder, having enjoyed a glorious career at Old Trafford.

The Welshman believes loyalty is a quality largely conspicuous by its absence, with too many footballers prioritising wage cheques over trophies.

Too much, too young

"Many players want to make as much money as they can and change teams for ten grand," he is quoted in The Sun, in an interview given to GQ.

"How is that going to make much difference to their lives?

"Foreign players have home somewhere else, so they are going to have their eyes on going back.

"But for the likes of me, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, this is our home."

Giggs concedes he can empathise with those supporters that feel detached from the game due to the exorbitant wages that are thrown around.

"Yeah, I would (understand)," he added. "If you get those players on their own they are good lads.

"So a lot of blame has to go to the advisors and agents who make a lot of money out of those deals and don't have the interests of the player at heart."

While Giggs is now seen as an upstanding ambassador for Manchester United, the 34-year-old concedes in his early days he flirted with a playboy lifestyle that included fast cars and more than the odd night on the tiles.

Learning curve

Looking back on his formative years in football, Giggs has a word of advice for those making their way in the game.

"They're going to learn the hard way about losing money on cars - and buying suits and only wearing them once.

"When I was younger I bought Porsches and Ferraris, clothes, booze and so on.

"These days I spend my money on my house, holidays and school fees."