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Contador rumored to have big deal with Astana
The tug-of-war for the services of Alberto Contador seems to be finally nearing a conclusion.
According to reports in the European media, the two-time Tour de France champion is looking more likely to stay with Astana. Whether that’s for one more season to fulfill his existing contract — or for a new, mega-contract worth a reported $12 million per season — remains to be seen.
The Belgian newspaper Het Nieusblad has reported that Astana has offered Contador a gigantic contract worth 8 million euros per year, but with the condition that Contador sign for four years with the troubled Kazakh team.
Contador’s brother, Fran, who acts as the Tour winner’s agent, confirmed that Astana is proposing a huge economic offer that might be too big to turn down.
Contador, meanwhile, is vacationing on the Caribbean island of Curacao after winning a weekend criterium there.
“I hope to definitely decide about my future this week,” said Contador said.
Contador has been trying in vain to break his contract with Astana, which has one year to run. He’s been entertaining offers from Caisse d’Epargne, Garmin-Slipstream and Quick Step.
Astana’s economic woes and the return of controversial captain Alexander Vinokourov, plus the exit of team manager Johan Bruyneel with Lance Armstrong and most of the team’s top riders, has only further complicated Contador’s situation.
If Contador stays with Astana, he’s asked the team to allow him to break his contract if any riders on the team are caught for doping and has demanded that Vinokourov not be allowed to be considered for the 2010 Tour.
Contador is cautious that he could be sidelined again for the Tour because of sins committed by the Astana team, just as it happened in 2008.
