Court hears Obafemi Martins was broke on £75,000 a week

Nov 20 2009 by Rob Pattinson, The Journal

FORMER Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins was constantly broke despite a £75,000 weekly salary, a High Court judge was told yesterday.

The player’s money management was so poor he was “constantly overdrawn” and relied on his agent as a Jeeves-type character to chase around after him, the court heard.

The star’s spending habits were such he could blow £40,000 in a weekend, the court heard.

The comments came at the start of a hearing yesterday, as the Nigerian’s former representative, Chris Nathaniel, seeks to sue the star for £300,000.

Mr Nathaniel’s company NVA Management Ltd – which handles the affairs of footballers, music and movie stars – believes it is due £284,000 plus interest after cutting deals on the player’s behalf.

A writ showed the firm served an invoice for the cash on the player less than a week after he returned from Lagos, Nigeria, following the shock death of his mother.

Mr Martins, sold to German Bundesliga Champions Wolfsburg for £9m, following Newcastle’s relegation in July, is fighting the claim.

Opening yesterday, counsel for NVA Management Ltd, Robert Temmink, told the court Martins, who was living in Gateshead at the time, had agreed to pay the firm for simply “managing his life”.

Mr Temmink said the forward was on £75,000 a week when he made his £10m signing for Newcastle, in August 2006.

The star would draw £40,000 cash for the weekend from his bank, then take another £25,000 on Monday morning, Mr Temmink said.

He added: “Despite earning these vast sums of money he was constantly overdrawn.”