Southampton’s Jose Fonte Signs 2 Year Contract Extension
Southampton’s long-serving captain Jose Fonte has signed a 2 year contract extension worth £70,000 per week in wages, ending speculation on his departure.
After earlier reports that Fonte had been offered the contract late last week, multiple sources now state that the 32 year old Portuguese international is likely to sign the contract before deadline day.
The deal, when signed, will make Fonte the highest-paid player in Southampton’s squad and is thought to be competitive with potential wages from suitor Manchester United, whose manager Jose Mourinho shares an agent with Saints’ captain.
Mourinho had been strongly linked with his countryman and Euro 2016 winner as a potential move to shore up a back line thought to be lacking in experience and depth. But Southampton adamantly refused to part ways with its centre-back, reportedly telling him outright that he would not be permitted to leave this summer.
In lieu of a move up to Old Trafford, the club offered the ultimatum of remaining on his current deal, or signing a 2 year extension with commensurate pay-rise. Fonte’s apparent move to accept the deal means he will remain with the club until 2020, by which time he will be 36.
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The signing represents a major coup for a club that has lately struggled under the label of “selling club” and accusations of lack of ambition. Having held its captain, with his six years of service to the club since its dark days in League One, against the siren call of Old Trafford, is no small achievement.
Against the sound and fury of a club who signed a living legend on a free before breaking the record on Paul Pogba, a club like Southampton standing firm and saying “you shall not pass” to the biggest of the big can only be seen as a Waterloo-like victory.
In signing, Jose Fonte has committed himself to Southampton, and the club have committed themselves to the service of a captain who has been a consummate leader throughout. While nothing is certain, one hopes that the fearless leader sees out his contract, gets a testimonial in four years’ time, and retires as a legend on par with Kelvin Davis and Matt Le Tissier.
Whatever the future holds for Jose Fonte, though, one thing is certain: his future belongs to the Saints. As always, We March On.