How i signed slave contracts at Auxerre, Inter Milan – Taribo West

Former Super Eagles defender Taribo West has warned young footballers against signing slave contracts, which he revealed he was a victim of , during his early European career.

 

Taribo joined French Ligue 1 side Auxerre from domestic league side Julius Berger in a highly celebrated move in 1993 .

“ I played in Auxerre for ( almost ) free. I was playing under a contract for five years without knowing the contents and conditions binding the contract , ” Taribo stated during Footballers Connect , an event aimed at bridging the gap between young footballers , professionals and ex – internationals .
“ After the third year , Arsenal, Juventus , Glasgow Rangers , Sevilla and Betis came for me.

I went to the coach stating that I wanted to leave but he sat me down, showed me my contract terms with Auxerre . I saw the details of what I had signed. Where my fellow defenders were earning as high as 120 , 000 French Francs, I was going home with 3000 French Francs .

“ I wanted to set Auxerre on fire that day . Immediately, I called my manager , who was turning me left and right (while ) enjoying himself in Senegal .
“ One day I went to see my coach after training where I met a certain manager who told me that about five clubs were interested in signing me . On the table I saw Arsenal , Juventus , Glasgow Rangers , Sevilla and Inter Milan .
He began to make calls and Inter was the destination , I signed the contract papers without knowing its content yet again . ”

 

In an interview with The PUNCH , Taribo stated that he had used his experiences to guide young African footballers , who would jump at the bait of European football without considering the negative consequences .

 

“ Most young Africans sign contracts they don ’ t know about because they are desperate to play in Europe . I didn ’ t know too . They need to have lawyers; that ’ s why the big players use their fathers or brothers as their agents these days . I didn ’ t know all these during my time.
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