The crazy wage Maro Itoje reportedly demanded from French club

Rugby News

by Steven Smith

Thursday, 24 September 2020 at 22:04

bySteven Smith

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’s “Never mind Brexit, who won Legs-it!” front page (“Sexism of the highest order”).

Racing 92 owner Jacky Lorenzetti was asked if they made approach for England lock Maro Itoje, and he didn’t hold back with his response.

“Yes, but it was unplayable,” Lorezetti told

rugbyrama.fr of what Itoje wanted to cross the English Channel.

“You know, we weren’t the only ones at the time: Bordeaux, Lyon, Montpellier were all called upon. We were talking about a salary of €1million (NZ$1.78m).

“That represented 10 per cent of our payroll. We made the choice not to go any further.”

The lock, who is equally at home on the flank, is one of a number of success stories from the Saracens Academy, stepping up to the first team for his debut in January 2013 in the LV= Cup.

Since then he has captained the club to the Anglo-Welsh Cup and developed into a world class option with astounding physicality and defensive attributes.

MARO ITOJE FACTS:

1. His Name

His full name is much more of a mouthful. The lock was born Oghenemaro Miles Itoje in Camden, London on 28 October 1994 to Nigerian parents.

2. Other Sports

As a schoolboy, Itoje played several sports including basketball, football, rugby and athletics, representing England at U17 level in shot put.

3. Studies

Maro got a rugby scholarship to London Harrow school when he was 11. He then studied for a Politics degree at the School of Oriental and African Studies in Bloomsbury, London at the same time as starting his rugby career.

4. Dream Dinner Guests

His guests would include a footballer! He told JOE: "I would pick Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and Jay-Jay Okocha. He's in there, my Nigerian brother!"

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5. Nickname

The Saracens second-row is nicknamed 'the pearl'. He was given the name by one of his teammates at the Christmas social after he wore a cream turtleneck and the name has stuck.

6. Mentor

"Richard Hill MBE – he is a former rugby union footballer who played flanker for Saracens and England and is the England team manager – he's inspirational."

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7. What TV does he like?

Itoje loves watching period dramas" Downton Abbey, Mr Selfridge, The Crown – he loves them all.

8. Family

He is the cousin of Bath's loosehead prop Beno Obano and Gloucester winger Ollie Thorley.

9. Lions

The youngest British & Irish Lion in the 2017 touring party, Maro Itoje defied his age to appear in all three Test matches of an historic drawn series against the All Blacks.