Masoud Ozil, the German-Turkish star, refused to give up part of his salary, as his colleagues at Arsenal FC did.
The British newspaper Mirror said that Ozil and two of his colleagues refused to join the agreement reached by the Arsenal management with the players, which requires them to reduce their salaries by 12.5% starting this month in order to face the repercussions of the outbreak of the new Corona virus.
The newspaper said that the player - who earns four hundred thousand euros each week - does not refuse to agree in principle, but he demands to wait until the final effects of the current epidemic on the club's financial position.
It quoted his agent as saying that Ozil would agree to postpone receiving his dues, but it would be illogical to waive the salaries in favor of the club, which could make the same profits it earned last season.
Arsenal said in a statement yesterday that the money it will provide from the salary cut agreement that includes players and technical staff "will help cover some of the financial risks we faced this season in terms of match days revenue and commercial income."
He pointed out that these funds will be returned to the players if certain specific goals related mainly to success on the field are achieved during the coming seasons, and the Mirror newspaper said that these goals include qualifying for the Champions League next season or the next.
Arsenal was the ninth league behind eight points from fourth place, which guarantees qualification for the Champions League before the activity in England was suspended indefinitely last month due to the outbreak of the Coruna virus.