In “Exemplary Gesture,” Oguchi Onyewu Adds Free Year to His AC Milan Contract

↵↵Surely, you’ve heard the truism about the talented athlete who loves his or her sport so much that he or she would play it for free. Apparently, Oguchi Onyewu is going to make that truism true.↵

↵↵⇥⇥MILAN - USA international Oguchi Onyewu, who is coming off a season of rehabilitation following a long injury which has forced him to stay off the pitch for the whole season, but is now ready to face the World Cup with his national team, made a very significant gesture from a human and professional point of view today. Assisted by his lawyer, Jean Louis Dupont, Onyewu asked for, and received, a one-year contract extension from Milan, from 30 June 2012 to 30 June 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.↵↵↵That’s a official statement from Milan’s website, and it’s perfectly appreciative. But for Onyewu, “playing in Italy for free” is just the sound bite; this is probably going to help the guy nicknamed “Gooch” a fair bit on the field, too.↵

↵↵Onyewu’s untimely knee injury last summer basically wiped out his 2009-10 season with Milan. (He played in a Champions League match, but did not see the field in Serie A play.) He may have sensed that Milan’s commitment to a player who would have to fight to see the field even when healthy was wavering, and predicted that tossing in an extra year of his services for free would make up for being injured this season, and then some.↵

↵↵It probably will. Milan and Onyewu both look good here—Onyewu for commitment and selflessness, Milan for sticking by an injured player—and both will benefit if Onyewu flourishes. And for Onyewu, a guaranteed extra year to develop in one of the world’s toughest leagues (perhaps the best one for a physical defender) for a team that will have spots available in defense as its stars age was probably worth whatever his salary would have been. It will definitely be a good move if that development leads to a longer, richer deal with Milan or another club. (This also likely forever lays to rest the thought that Milan would come after the U.S. national team for compensation related to Onyewu’s injury, but that would probably be an unintended consequence.)↵

↵↵This is a win-win situation and a feel-good story. Just remember, when you’re throwing things at the people on your TV who have spent the last seven hours trying to divine where LeBron James will earn his next nine-figure payday, that Oguchi Onyewu forfeited a year’s salary to get better at his game and compete with and against some of the best players in the world.↵

↵↵(HT: Dirty Tackle.)↵

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