Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergei Palkin has given an explanation to The Athletic over why they preferred to sell Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea over Arsenal.
He revealed that the Gunners contacted the winger in October or November, before Chelsea did. They were even ready to pay €100m for him, but their bonus clauses were too difficult for Shakhtar to accept.
Arsenal wanted to add a clause that would’ve seen them pay the Ukrainian club a major amount if Mudryk won the Ballon d’Or.
Palkin didn’t like these kinds of clauses and decided to reject them, opting to deal with Chelsea instead.
Speaking about if there are Ballon d’Or clauses in the Chelsea deal, he said: “Chelsea’s offer has no Ballon d’Or (clause). It is achievable bonuses that we feel, and they feel, can be reached. Maybe not this year but in the next two, three or four years.”
The Blues’ deal does have add-ons which will see them pay money to Shakhtar if Mudryk helps them win the Premier League or Champions League over the course of his eight year contract.
Interestingly, the winger himself believes he is capable of winning the Ballon d’Or in the future. He said in the past: “My inspiration is Cristiano Ronaldo because of what you can do if you work hard and believe in yourself. I like the way Cristiano plays. I see myself like that – a winger. I need more time to change my position from 11 or 7 to 9, but with time it is possible.”
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