Following the announcement of Charles Leclerc‘s multi-year contract extension with Ferrari, it is estimated that the Italian giants are the first team on the grid to surpass the €100 million wage bill (£86.5 million), as the 28-year-old has been rewarded with an extended contract that sees him stay at the Prancing Horse into his 30s, while also receiving a hefty pay rise.

Despite his previous contract not expiring until the 2029 season, Ferrari revealed on Wednesday, two days prior to the beginning of Leclerc’s home race weekend, that they have agreed a new deal to keep the Monegasque driver at the team for a few years longer.

Ferrari revealed that Leclerc’s new contract will commit him to stay at the team “for the coming seasons.” This new deal comes at a significant time for both the driver and the team, as rumours started to circulate and questions were beginning to be asked about whether they could offer him a car capable of winning the world championship following their inability to provide him with one necessary to compete for and win a world championship since his arrival back in 2019.

After receiving heavy interest from Ferrari’s competitors, Leclerc had been linked with a potential departure and a stunning move to the likes of McLaren, Red Bull, and even Aston Martin. However, following the announcement of his new deal, many F1 fans now believe that Leclerc will see out his Formula 1 career in the red of Ferrari, with the hopes of winning his first-ever Drivers’ Championship.

Finances Behind Charles Leclerc’s New Ferrari Deal

His brand-new contract extension also reportedly sees him receive a significant pay rise, which will now see the Monegasque earning €50 million per year (£43 million). This has gone up from his previous deal, which was worth €34m a year (£29.5m).

His pay rise, however, still sees him earn less than seven-time champion and Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton, as it is reported that he has a deal that steered him away from Mercedes, worth €60 million per year (£52 million), and it potentially will keep the most decorated Formula One driver in history at Ferrari until the 2027 season.

With Hamilton’s hefty wage and Leclerc’s increased salary, Ferrari have become the first team on the current grid to surpass the €100 million (£86.5 million) barrier for their drivers’ combined salaries, ahead of Red Bull, who pay their drivers a combined amount of €75 million (£65 million), with Max Verstappen receiving €70 million per year (£60.5 million).

Despite Ferrari seeming reluctant to reveal the full duration of Leclerc’s contract extension, it has been reported that he will stay at Ferrari beyond the 2030 season, while many fans, pundits, and paddock insiders begin to wonder if he has been offered an exit clause similar to the one of his previous contract that would have allowed him to depart after the 2026 season if he wasn’t provided with a championship-competing car.

Ibrahima Konate is on the verge of signing for Real Madrid following his departure from Liverpool.

The Frenchman’s future has been a talking point for many months, with his contract at Liverpool expiring this summer. In April, it looked as if he would extend his stay at Liverpool. Fabrizio Romano reported that the two parties were close to a contract agreement and that talks had advanced into the final stages.

However, despite optimism that a deal would be done, an agreement could not be reached and, following the conclusion of the 2025/26 season, it was announced that Konate was departing the club on a free transfer.

GMS Sources understand that Liverpool were keen to keep the 27-year-old at the club and were willing to give him a pay-rise which reflected his own standing in the squad. Konate was also open to staying should his demands be met.

However, there wasn’t enough movement on either side, meaning Konate will become a free agent this summer.

How Much Ibrahima Konate Will Earn at Real Madrid

Konate has long been linked with a move to Real Madrid, and he is now closing in on a move to the Spanish capital.

Fabrizio Romano announced earlier this week that an agreement had been reached and that he has signed a four-year contract.

The terms of his contract have now come to light. According to Spanish journalist Eduardo Inda, Konate was demanding a signing bonus of €20 million, and a yearly salary of €12 million net per season. That works out to around £400,000-per-week before tax, per Anfield Watch.

El Desmarque have now reported that Real Madrid have agreed to those terms. He will earn a salary very similar to that of David Alaba, who joined the club on a free transfer from Bayern Munich in 2021.

Konate was earning around £150,000-per-week at Liverpool, per Goal, meaning he has been given a mammoth pay-rise.

Ibrahima Konate Pays Tribute to Liverpool After Exit

REUTERS/David Klein

Konate made 183 appearances for Liverpool during his five-year spell at the club. He scored seven times and helped them to five trophies, including the Premier League title in 2025.

He penned an emotional post on Instagram after it was revealed he was leaving the club. He wrote:

“Representing this club has been an honour. We’ve shared incredible moments together… highs and lows, trophies, challenges, lifelong friendships, and heartbreaking moments that will stay with us forever, none more painful than losing our brother Diogo.

“Losing my father this year was one of the hardest periods of my life, but even through hardship, my commitment to this club never changed. During the toughest moments, I gave everything I had for this badge.

“To my teammates, coaches, staff and everyone behind the scenes, thank you for helping me grow every single day. And to the supporters… thank you for your love, your energy, and your incredible support. Anfield is truly a special place, and playing in front of you was something I never took for granted.

“I am deeply saddened that I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to all of you at the last game. At that moment, I didn’t know it would be my final time wearing this shirt in front of you.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything. I love you all and will carry Liverpool with me wherever I go. This isn’t an easy goodbye, but it’s time for a new challenge and a new chapter.”

Florentino Perez has announced that Real Madrid will submit a record-breaking €150 million offer for a ‘total Galactico’ next week.

The 79-year-old is currently locked in a battle with Enrique Riquelme to be re-elected as Real Madrid president. The vote will be held this weekend and Perez, who has been in charge at the Bernabeu since 2009, is the strong favourite to win this year’s presidential race.

Enrique Riquelme caused a stir earlier this week by promising to sign Manchester City’s Erling Haaland if elected. The 37-year-old held up a Real Madrid shirt with ‘Haaland 9’ on the back before also promising to sign the Norwegian’s teammate Rodri. Man City have subsequently threatened legal action.

Florentino Perez Rules Out Four Players

Not taking victory for granted, Perez confirmed on Thursday night, via the Spanish TV show Horizonte, per Marca: “I want to share some news. On Tuesday, I will make a major offer to a Champions League club for a great player.

“It would be the largest transfer fee Real Madrid has ever paid in its history. It would be around €150 million. A clue? I can’t give one – I’m already telling you what we’re going to do.”

Perez, describing Enrique’s campaign promise to sign Haaland as a “bluff”, ruled out the possibility that the player in question is Man City’s prolific No. 9.

The current president added, per ESPN: “It isn’t [Michael] Olise, he’s a great player, but it isn’t Olise.

Perez added: “He’s a total Galactico. But first we’ll talk to his club.”

He also hinted the footballer is a “Cristiano Ronaldo or Kaka level player”, according to Fabrizio Romano.

A host of top-level European clubs will now be sweating after Perez’s announcement. One of them is about to receive a gigantic €150 million offer for one of their top stars.

Needless to say, there’s been constant speculation on social media following Perez’s cryptic announcement, with fans attempting to work out the mystery player’s identity.

Paris Saint-Germain’s world-class winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala and even Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal are all being mentioned.

However, according to El Partidazo de COPE, there are only two possibilities: and they both play for PSG in midfield.

Portugal internationals Vitinha and Joao Neves have both cemented their reputations as world-class midfielders with PSG over the past couple of seasons. Both players would also cost a fortune to sign.

They tick many of the boxes, although it’s debatable whether either are at the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo or Kaka, two previous Galactico signings who joined Los Blancos in the summer of 2009.

Both Vitinha and Joao Neves, who come from the same country as returning manager Jose Mourinho, are among the early contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or award ahead of the 2026 World Cup.