As Napoli prepare to face Liverpool at Anfield this evening in the Champions League, the difference in salaries for both players and coaches is frankly extraordinary.
It kicks off at 20.00 GMT and the Partenopei will secure top spot in the group unless they are beaten by five clear goals.
Luciano Spalletti’s side have won all five of their Champions League matches so far, including a 4-1 victory over Liverpool back in September.
Il Mattino newspaper calculated the costs of keeping these teams going and found some astonishing differences in budget that only serves to highlight how the Premier League runs at a totally different financial level to every other division.
The coaches alone have an enormous gap between them, as Jurgen Klopp earns €12m per season gross, compared to just €2.8m for Spalletti.
Mohamed Salah, formerly of Roma and Fiorentina, is the top earner in the Liverpool squad at €21.2m gross, compared to Napoli’s biggest salary for Victor Osimhen and Hirving Lozano set at €8m gross.
Piotr Zielinski picks up €7m, Diego Demme €5m, Giacomo Raspadori €4.5m and Kim Min-jae €4m.
On the other hand, Liverpool boast €13.3m for Virgil van Dijk, €12.1m for Thiago Alcantara, plus Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino on €10.9m each.
Which is why Klopp and Guardiola will not come to Serie A until, like Mourinho, they are at the wane of their careers. Fortunately Italy has many talented coaches / managers.
This financial disparity is an issue for all European leagues. Only PSG and Madrid can compete with the PL.