West Brom boss hits out at Saido Berahino's 'naughty' advisors
Steve Clarke today hit out at Saido Berahino's "naughty" advisors and claimed the young West Bromwich Albion striker must forget instant riches and focus on staying at the top for a decade.
Boss Clarke insisted Berahino will be rewarded for his stunning start to the season with a lucrative new contract, with talks already underway.
But Clarke criticised the Berahino camp after details of the 20-year-old's salary found their way into the national media after he scored the match-winning goal in last Saturday's victory at Manchester United.
"It was a little bit naughty for the agent to put out the level of his wages," said Clarke.
"I understand why the agent did it because he's trying to generate interest and do what's best for his client.
"But sometimes with a young player you have to be a little more cute.
"He could have come to us and we could have spoken in private.
"Saido knows he will get an improved contract offer from Albion because his performances make that inevitable.
"The job of the people around him giving advice is to make sure in 10 years he is still playing at the right level.
"In this country you get a young player who is a fantastic talent, you throw loads of money at him and in two or three years' time everybody is asking where he's gone when he's sitting in somebody's reserves picking up loads of money. You have to keep young boys hungry, give them the right level of contract and give them the ambition and hunger to succeed.
"He is under contract to 2015 but he deserves to be rewarded so the club should now make sure he gets the contract he deserves – and they will."
Berahino, who has eight months remaining on his contract plus a year's option in the club's favour, could make his first Premier League start against Arsenal at The Hawthorns tomorrow (4pm).
