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Low-cost Nadal refuses State's private jet offer

Alex Dunham
Alex Dunham - [email protected]
Low-cost Nadal refuses State's private jet offer
Rafa Nadal's uncle and coach Toni has supported his nephew's decision to avoid extra costs after Madrid's costly Olympic bid fail. Photo: Paul Crock/AFP

The number two tennis player in the world has turned down an offer to fly on a private jet to the Davis Cup in Madrid, arguing "I don't think it's the right time to make the State pay for my trip".

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Spain's Tennis Federation intended to deploy a private plane for their most prolific player in the hope that Nadal would be on top physical form after Monday's US Open final against Novak Djokovic in New York.

But the Majorcan-born star has refused to opt for the comfort arguing that it isn't the moment to make the State pay for a flight only for him.

Nadal’s coach and uncle, Toni, has also been at the centre of a debate over money squandering after he criticized sports salaries on Spanish radio station Onda Cero.

"I don’t like that so much was paid for Bale," he told Onda Cero.

"Not because of him personally, I also think that what Rafa gets paid is ridiculous, what Barça's coach Tata Martino gets, or Xavi.

"It's ludicrous to think that a football coach who manages twenty people is paid more than the Prime Minister. We live in a crazy world!"

Toni Nadal backed his nephew’s decision not to fly private and avoid the unnecessary expense for Spain’s tennis federation and the government, especially after the expense of Madrid’s third failed Olympic bid.

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