Romanov pins faith on controversial Chilean he values at £8m

Published on Saturday 10 May 2008 19:20

VLADIMIR ROMANOV'S belief in Mauricio Pinilla has been emphasised by a release clause inserted in the Chilean's new contract at Hearts, set at a staggering £8m.

Pinilla, whose two years in Edinburgh have been notable for controversy and injury rather than eye-catching form on the field, has agreed terms to stay at Hearts on a deal worth a basic 12,000 a week. Over the potential four years of its duration, therefore, the contract could cost the Tynecastle outfit 2.5m, on top of the 600,000 in salary payments they have already bestowed on a player who has made only eight appearances in maroon, scoring twice. Further payments will be made to the player, formerly owned jointly with Internazionale, on a performance-related basis.

Romanov, however, believes the investment is worthwhile. Terms of Pinilla's deal include a value at which Hearts would release him to another club; that value, US$16m, would on face value appear unjustifiably high. Moreover, the Hearts owner's son Roman has invited Pinilla to his native Lithuania next month for a holiday. "For me this season is over," said Pinilla, who is currently recovering from his latest injury, knee ligament damage. "The doctors don't want to endanger my recovery and I'll return to playing next season in the SPL. Despite this, (Roman] Romanov (the Hearts chairman] has been very loyal to me and has even invited me and my family to stay with him in his house a month before pre-season commences."

Vladimir Romanov's decision to retain Pinilla, a player who played a total of 51 times in five years before moving to Scotland, is all the more controversial because of comments made by Roman at the club's recent annual general meeting. There, Romanov jnr specifically said Hearts would seek to remove at least five high-earners from the payroll as they had not offered value for money.

The Hearts owner's plan, almost certainly, is that Pinilla can enjoy a trouble-free season 2008-9, after which time Romanov can recoup at least a percentage of his money. Given recent history, it is a risky strategy.

Romanov has already validated a 35,000 bill for Pinilla to receive clinical treatment, believed to be for depression. With that in mind, the player who had an offer from Everton de Via del Mar in his homeland and two from Italy – including Lazio – insists he owes a debt to Romanov.

"I'm very happy with the leadership of the club (Hearts]," claimed Pinilla, "All I want is to play again to reward all the affection they have given me. I know that, with this contract, much of my own and my family's future is assured."

Whether or not the mercurial striker has any genuine aspirations of repaying Hearts' faith is considerably less clear.