Player loyalty is a trait lost among the piles of £50 notes which so many of today’s footballers live in. Once that first big wage comes into their account, the alienation process begins. The footballer isn’t still a local lad from the same background as his fans, but instead a new man. He moves to a suburb, away from his roots and becomes totally immersed in a world of materialism, models and money. Yet, as we all know, there are a few players, who still remain exceptions to the rule.

Names such as Paolo Maldini, Raul and (horrible) pundit Mark Lawrenson’s favourite duo, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, still embody the ideals of loyalty and badge before wealth. There is a thin line in terms of loyalty and its opposite, which can be blurred on occasion, as Frank Lampard showed us this summer. Pining for a move to Inter Milan in a bid to be reunited with his old boss Jose Mourinho, Lampard eventually set his heart on a stay having been persuaded by a five year deal and £150,000 a week. Throughout this summer, we were entertained by shallow footballers, flaunting their desire to join another club, yet upon failing to realise their dream of doubling their wages, return, put out reassuring quotes in the media, and of course doing everyone’s favourite act – kissing the badge. This is not just about Emmanuel Adebayor and Cristiano Ronaldo. While they may dream of AC Milan or Real Madrid, money is the motivating factor and is secondary to little else.

Yet a footballing heaven is the dream for a number of players. Joseba Etxeberria is one of these. The winger has remained in the Basque country for his entire footballing career and his ties to Atletico Bilbao are so strong that the loyal player has signed a one year extension with an enormous weekly wage of £0 a week. In a side where nearly all the players derive from the Basque state, the ‘cantera’ policy of the club and team selection suggests that this idea will be very well received. That’s the difference between Frank Limper’s loyalty and that of someone like Exteberria. Despite having claimed a letter from a fan changed his mind, during the unfortunate passing of his mother, a £10,000 per week increase in the contract offer with the addition of another year may have been the deciding factor.

Rarely do we see those who are motivated by money thrive elsewhere. Many speak of a curse following those who depart Arsenal on acrimonious terms. Nicolas Anelka had his head turned by the interest of Real Madrid and left for £23m in 2000. Since then, he is the most expensive player in world football, but has become a journeyman in terms of his performances on the pitch. Only at Bolton did he threaten to blossom into the player Arsenal fans dreamt he would over 10 years ago. There are examples all over the world, such as Rafael Sobis, once rated the next big thing, had stagnated badly and departed to the UAE, where at least he’ll secure his financial future albeit in a league of very poor sporting standards.

Others lose their innocence and joy for the game once seeing dollar signs in front of their eyes. Ronaldinho of Barcelona from 2003-6 was the greatest player on the planet. Then an addiction to the nightlife made him a shadow of the player he was. Sure the ‘fat’ jibes didn’t help, but on the whole it was his fault. Only now, having signed for AC Milan, earning roughly £6 million a year, is he showing glimpses of the world’s best player. Others make poor career choices, with Mauro Zarate initially moving to Qatar for a huge contract, but regretting his decision and leaving desperately on loan, now he is flourishing at Lazio with 6 goals in 5 games.

Yet others have different principles. Homegrown players from clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan and even Bilbao, have an undying loyalty to their club. Carlos Puyol is living the Catalan schoolboy’s dream in captaining his dream side, while the triumvirate of Raul, Guti and Iker Casillas have remained with Los Blancos since the beginning of their careers. It does help being (deservedly) paid on par with the biggest foreign stars though. Paolo Maldini has been at the peak of the game for roughly twenty years winning a number of European Cups and Serie A titles but never loses the motivation to win. This mentality stops the attractiveness of money affecting him and he provides a perfect role model for many young footballers. In being the captain of the club for such a long time, he has accumulated respect for displaying traits which all players should. Compare this attitude to that of Ashley Cole, who claimed to have aspirations of becoming Arsenal captain, but nearly ‘swerved off the road’ upon hearing of a £5,000 per week decrease from his original contract offer. Aside from admitting dangerous driving and use of a phone in his hand whilst driving, he also confirmed his appetite for the pound.

Etxeberria may not have been at one club all his life, having made seven appearances for Real Sociedad whilst a youngster, but this gesture is brilliant. The former Spain international and current Bilbao captain stated “I wanted to do this gesture but never did I want to set a precedent.” Hopefully he does indeed do so. The game is so full of money that essentially the England captain earns roughly in a week what the Prime Minister earns in a year.

Huge rises ticket prices have killed the almost religious following from the working class fans, whilst laughably many of these millionaires claim that they need a rise to secure their financial futures, stupidly unaware that the current economic climate makes it far worse for the average man in the street. We should be glad Joseba Etxeberria has done this, and hopefully others of similar high regard in world football take notice and do the same.