Forgotten Brazil star earned so much in China he can buy Floyd Mayweather's private jet - 7M sport

Forgotten Brazil star earned so much in China he can buy Floyd Mayweather's private jet

Brazilian footballer Givanildo Vieira de Sousa, better known as Hulk, has earned enough from playing in Russia and China to afford Floyd Mayweather's Gulfstream G650 jet


Posted Saturday, November 27, 2021 by Dailystar.co.uk

Givanildo Vieira de Sousa, better known as Hulk, has snubbed all transfer interest from Europe's top five leagues across his career - and reaped the financial benefits from abroad in doing so.

The 35-year-old forward is still going strong since returning to Brazil with Atletico Mineiro in January, racking up a huge 63 appearances and scoring 30 goals despite his advanced age.

Nicknamed for his likeness to Lou Ferrigno's Incredible Hulk from the 1970's TV series, Hulk left South America back in 2005 and spent three years in Japan with Kawasaki Frontale, Consadole Sapporo and Tokyo Verdy.

What followed was a successful spell with Porto in Portugal, a period in which he won four Primeira Liga titles and the Europa League while scoring 77 goals across five seasons.

The next two stages of Hulk's career were by far the most profitable, with four seasons in the Russian Premier League with Zenit coming before five Chinese Super League campaigns with Shanghai SIPG.

The 49-cap Brazil international, who returned to the national side this year following four years of exile, was long one of the best-paid players on the planet.

Forgotten Brazil star earned so much in China he can buy Floyd Mayweather's private jet
Floyd Mayweather's private jet is a Gulfstream G650

Hulk was reportedly earning more than £6million a year during his early days in Russia, which would work out as £30million over the course of his time there even if he didn't receive a pay rise.

Then came his move to China, with SIPG paying him an astonishing £320,000-a-week wage after paying a £45million transfer fee - with the player's earnings working out as around £80million.

That would give Hulk more than enough to purchase the same model jet as Floyd Mayweather, who travels in a Gulfstream G650, dubbed 'Air Mayweather'.

The jet in question is said to be worth around £50million, and has been shown off on Mayweather's social media channels on multiple occasions in the past.

Mayweather has never been humble about his career earnings, saying earlier this year: "They say 'It's not all about the money' but the thing is... your kids can't eat legacy.

"Patches on my trunks are worth $30 million alone, so who is the smartest man in boxing really?

"If you guys don't want to see me fight exhibitions then don't come, don't watch! When it comes to... legalised bank robbing... I'm the best.

"I don't care if y'all write good stories, if y'all write bad stories, at the end of the day, I will always have the last laugh."



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