Football
ESPN staff 9y

Selangor FA may part ways with 34-goal Brazilian star striker Rangel

Malaysia Super League (MSL) runners-up Selangor FA are facing a battle to keep their star Brazilian import Paulo Rangel after the striker publicly criticised the club for failing to pay his wages on time.

Rangel joined the ailing domestic giants at the start of the 2014 after a superb season at Perak FA. He went on to become the Malaysian Super League's top scorer with 16 goals and a total of 34 strikes in all competitions.

But he was upset that the club had reportedly fallen behind in their payments to him over the past month and decided to go public with his grievances. "I am very sad with Selangor. I played with great satisfaction and gave my all for the club. This joy has now become sadness as they have not paid me after I had signed a new contract recently," Rangel told The New Straits Times.

"I am sorry but I am a working class person just like you. I am giving Selangor until next week to resolve all outstanding issues or I will look for a new team."

His comments angered the club, with deputy president Datuk Mokhtar Ahmad claiming that the 29-year-olld had broken the terms of his new two-year contract and should have aired his grievances, in confidence, to a club official, instead of speaking to the media.

"If he already has a club waiting to sign him, we will not hesitate to let him go. He is not irreplaceable. We can easily get 1,000 quality foreign players for trials in Selangor. This club is bigger than any player." said Datuk Mokhtar.

"We will pay him and others next week. The delay is caused by some technical issues. We also settled RM50,000 (about 15 thousand dollars), which was contra'd with an earlier loan, for winning the league's golden boot. As for the signing fees, we need to discuss with his agent as there must have been miscommunication."

Selangor have had a horrid post-season. They missed out on the signing of Malaysian international midfielder Junior Eldstal from Sarawak, who joined Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) instead. Earlier, two of Selangor's best players from the 2014 campaign -- winger S. Kunalan and goalkeeper Farizal Marlias -- also opt to sign deals with JDT.

As for the foreign brigade, Indonesian midfielder Andik Vermansyah has reportedly been signed on for 2015 while Brazilian utility Evaldo Silva is still training at the club, with a decision on him to be made soon. Australian defender Steve Pantelidis has been released.

The retention of head coach Mehmet Durakovic does provide some stability for the coming season, but Selangor need to keep happy their remaining players -- including talisman Rangel -- if they are to mount a meaningful challenge for the MSL title.

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