Real Madrid denies 2.5 million euro bonus

Real Madrid Saturday denied it had promised players a 2.5 million euro bonus if they win their next five games, but said it would pay them “compensation” linked to a match in the Middle East at Christmas.

It promised to compensate the players for giving up their Christmas holidays to play in a friendly match “in an Arab country.”

But the players said they would accept the payment only if they won their next seven matches — against Recreativo Huelva, Getafe, Sevilla, Barcelona and Valencia in the league, and against BATE Borisov and Zenit Saint Petersburg in the Champions League.

“The management thanks the players for this gesture which shows their commitment to the interests and the aims of the club,” Real, who are sitting only fourth behind arch rivals Barcelona, said in a statement.

It did not specify the amount of the compensation, but said it would be less than the bonus reported in the press.

The Spanish press said Saturday Real president Ramon Calderon has dug deep into his pockets in a bid to boost the club's fortunes and put up a 2.5 million euro bonus if they win their next five games.

Calderon made the offer, which translates to 120,000 euros a player, over lunch on Friday, the Spanish press reported Saturday.