How much did Arsenal pay Arsene Wenger to leave the club at the end of the season?

Arsene Wenger announced on Friday that he would be stepping down as the manager of the club at the end of the season claiming that the time was the ‘right time for him to step down’ and let someone else carry the club forward.

At the top of it, it seems that the Frenchman made a very personal decision after getting a fair amount of backlash from fans. But now it looks like there is another reason why Wenger resorted to such a conclusion.

According to a report in the Daily Mail, the Gunners manager had lost the faith of the Arsenal hierarchy after a disappointing season with the club and the decision to step down was a sort of last resort for the Frenchman.

As per the report, Wenger no longer had the backing of Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke, who was adamant about making the decision public before Arsenal faced Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-finals.

Arsene Wenger had no intention of leaving the club with one year still left in his current contract but the US owners did not want him to carry on at the club any longer.

So the Arsenal management had to pay off his final year’s salary in full which as per the Daily Mail is 9 million pounds.

Wenger released an official statement which read: ‘After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season.

‘I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years.

‘I managed the club with full commitment and integrity.

‘I want to thank the staff, the players, the directors and the fans who make this club so special.’

Reading the statement one might feel that the decision to move was solely at Wenger’s discretion but in reality, the club’s owners wanted him to leave.

The club’s hierarchy felt that if Arsene Wenger announced his retirement before the clash against Atletico Madrid then the fans will find their voice again and the team would get the much-needed support before the Europa League semi-finals.

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