Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has said he will ensure Quade Cooper is as broke as Greece should he fail to turn up for his medical at the French club.
The European champions announced that Cooper would be joining them on a two year contract in April, but the Australian outhalf has since gone back on his wode, and is expected to sign a new lucrative deal to stay in Australia.
Last week Boudjellal threatened to sue the Australian Rugby Union “for millions” after the saga, and the Toulon owner has now said he intends to make Cooper as broke as Greece if he fails to honour his contract.
Boudjellal rubbished claims that the ARU merely had to pay €150,000 in compensation to release him from the deal, saying that in reality, they will be seeking the full value of the contract to be settled.
Speaking to Midi Olympique, Boudjellal said: “It could make him alone the second most indebted State after Greece (laughs).”
“The moron of the Australian federation who does not know his file needs to know that the promise of employment is no longer the question,” Boudjellal told the paper.
“€150, 000 was to pay for the release of promise of contract, but Cooper has signed his contract, I can produce it if necessary, and received it the League. The contract promise is now obsolete. At the present time, if Cooper withdraws, it will have to pay the amount of the contract!” he said.
The Toulon owner also added that Cooper would “have more need of money than words”, should he fail to show up to the club.
After being informed of Boudjellal’s comments, Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika said that while he understands Toulon’s desire to sign Cooper, Boudjellal crossed the line with his attempt at humour.
“I don’t think it is an issue to be joked about to be honest, there are a lot of people struggling over there,” Cheika said.
“I don’t think it is that funny, that type of stuff. He is entitled to say what he likes, and do what he wants to do. But I don’t know if those analogies are necessary.”
H/t Daily Telegraph
