Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s scoring bonus shows why he’s so selfish in front of goal

No wonder Zlatan Ibrahimovic is so selfish in front of goal.

New figures released in the most recent series of leaked information about football's highest earners reveal the outrageous amount of money that Ibrahimovic has pocketed for finding the net since moving to Manchester United. Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals across all competitions for the Red Devils before his season was cut short due to injury. And it's little surprise that the Swedish powerhouse has been so very trigger-happy since his move from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer as he had a lot to earn from his goalscoring. In total, Ibrahimovic is said to have made just under £3 million from his precise finishing this season, according to the findings of Der Spiegel reporters Rafael Buschmann and Michael Wulzinger. The figures, published in new book, Football Leaks: the Dirty Business of Football, reveal that Ibrahimovic is on a salary of £367,640-per-week but he has an interesting goal bonus clause in his contract that has seen him rewarded handsomely for becoming United's top scorer this season. Ibrahimovic opened his account with the Red Devils in the Community Shield, with a goal that was worth £235,000 while he has since seen an injection of cash arrive in his bank account in five-goal increments up to his 16th goal of the season. His sixth goal for United, which came in the Europa League victory over Zorya, saw him pocket £395,000 while goals 11, 16 and 21 earned him £555,000, £715,000 and £851,000 respectively. If Ibrahimovic had avoided injury and added a further eight goals to his tally, he would have been in line for a staggering final £1.91 million bonus. The figures involved in Ibrahimovic's deal have divided opinion. On the one hand, the incentive for added funds has clearly worked for the 35-year-old as he has been nothing but clinical in front of goal. But, on the other, Ibrahimovic is already being paid very, very well and, given that his role is to get on the scoresheet, does a goal bonus simply just make him a more selfish player? Opinionated pundit and former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has had his say on the matter and it won't surprise anyone to learn that he has taken a hard line stance on Ibrahimovic's goal bonus.

"You might assume any centre forward would think a goal bonus is a good idea. I don’t," Sutton writes in his Daily Mail column.

"In fact, I think it is utterly ridiculous that Manchester United are prepared to pay so much money to Zlatan Ibrahimovic for doing the job he is already paid to do.

"What a player he is. He deserves the big wages, but the bonus system can’t be a good idea."

After revealing the goal bonus he was on at Norwich (£500 per goal if the Canaries won or drew), Sutton explained why he is just not a fan of strikers being rewarded simply for doing their job.

"I can understand why the figures revealed about Ibrahimovic provoke such a debate," Sutton continued. "Hang on, he’s a striker, he’s paid a fortune so why are we paying him again for doing his job? It’s like paying a gardener extra for the number of roses that bloom.

"Scoring goals is the point of your business. It cannot help with team morale, either, if one player can earn so much money for doing his job.

"Is there resentment that he takes the penalties or the free kicks? Now I think back, is it any wonder he was taking every opportunity to shoot and has played in so many games?"