Manchester City paid World Cup star Hatem Trabelsi less than minimum wage
Before the big money poured into Manchester City then boss Stuart Pearce was forced to deal at the low end of the market and bagged himself a bargain with Trabelsi
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MANCHESTER City thought they got a bargain when experienced full back Hatem Trabelsi moved to Eastlands back in 2006.
The Tunisian, who was then at Ajax, agreed to join Arsenal two years earlier after a successful pre-season trial, but for personal reasons opted to stay in Holland.
Following a string of injuries the big clubs were reluctant to take a gamble on Trabelsi, but City boss Stuart Pearce gave the defender a shot in the Premier League on a pay-as-you play deal.
Trabelsi, 29 at the time, agreed a £15,000 appearance fee per game but got paid nothing if Pearce didn't pick him.
Footy Leaks revealed City were then contacted by the old Department for Employment and ordered to rip up the deal because the terms of the agreement meant technically Trabelsi was not even earning the minimum wage, which was £5.35 an hour.
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The former Ajax man did not feature again after the City beat Newcastle in March and was released at the end of the season.
Trabelsi was without a club until joining Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal Riyadh before retiring later on in the year.
The defender made 66 appearances for Tunisia and featured for his country in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.