HONG KONG - Brazilian football legend Pele warned yesterday that soaring players' salaries and powerful agents who squeeze clubs for higher fees represent a "danger for the future" of the game.
The three-time World Cup winner bemoaned the number of players pocketing big salaries only to "disappear" after a short career, to reporters in Hong Kong.
"Players should never forget to play for the love of the game and team ... players love whoever pays a little bit more, that's the danger for football," he said, mock-kissing a badge on his blazer to illustrate his point.
"Sometimes I tease them (players) and say 'you get in one year what I would have to play 10 years to get'."
Decrying the role of agents in the modern game, the 70-year-old said: "They do not care if the player is good or not. They want to sell the player and get the money. That's the danger for the future of football."