A British newspaper reports that Dan Carter is set to sign a multi-million dollar deal with Paris club Racing Metro. Photo / Getty Images
Dan Carter will join Paris rugby club Racing Metro in a world record $8.25m, three-year deal after the World Cup, an English paper says.
The near-four million pound contract will make the world's best player the world's highest paid player, reports the Daily Mail.
Carter, who would be on
$2.75m a year, would overhaul another Racing recruit, Sebastien Chabal, who has signed for $2.06m a year, as the world's highest paid.
Carter's agent Simon Porter said yesterday he had not seen the UK report, but claimed it was "just speculation."
There was interest in signing Carter "all over Europe," he said.
"He's assessing his options and will make a decision soonish.
"He's the world's best rugby player, and there are lots of people including the NZRFU interested in him."
Porter had "absolutely no comment" on whether $2.75m a year was the right valuation for Carter's services.
The Crusaders first-five previously played in France two years ago for Perpignan, but was quickly sidelined by an achilles tendon injury.
The Daily Mail said Perpignan dropped out of the bidding this time when the price reached the million (pounds) a year mark.
Racing's millionaire owner Jacky Lorenzetti made a fortune in property deals, and the Mail said he believed Carter was the man to catapult the club back to its former status as the top side in France.
Racing last won the French championship in 1990, and are second in the Top 14 competition at present.
"European clubs have been fighting to sign Carter for months, but his record-breaking demands prompted even Toulon's millionaire owner Mourad Boudjellal to complain: 'Is this a reasonable price to pay for Carter?"' said the Mail.
"Everyone is put off by the price.
In the current climate of rugby, this has crossed the line."
The Mail said Carter was set to arrive in Paris in November, just in time for the Heineken Cup in which Racing were practically certain of a place because of their Top 14 form.
