Buzzin Football

Oguchi Onyewu

AC Milan and USA centre back Oguchi Onyewu who is in the preliminary USA squad for the 2010 World Cup despite missing most of the season with a serious knee injury, has extended his contract with the Serie A club, but there is a strange twist.

In an age of overpaid footballers asking for yet more money to sign new contracts with their clubs, Onyewu has totally bucked the trend by agreeing to play for twelve months with no salary.

The 28-year-old was in his first season with the Italian club when he tore a knee tendon in October playing for the U.S. in a World Cup qualifier.

How reassuring then that the player feels that he owes the club who have paid his salary during his recuperation and has actually signed a contract to play for nothing for a year.

In a statement from the AC Milan website, it says:

“Onyewu asked for, and received, a one-year contract extension from Milan, from June 30, 2012 to June 30, 2013, during this extra year, Oguchi Onyewu, by his choice, much appreciated by the Rossoneri club, has asked not to receive any kind of salary. This is an exemplary gesture which deserves sincere congratulations.”

It is unclear whether Onyewu will play any part in the World Cup finals as he has only just recovered from the injury, too late to gain match fitness in the Serie A run in.

AC Milan finished third in Serie A this season.