Never mind Manchester United and Rupert Murdoch. A truck load of firewood proved the dealclincher when goalkeeper Valentin Bargan left Recolta Laza to sign for Stemnic Buda on Tuesday.

The appropriately named Bargan was lured away from Laza when their Romanian division four rivals doubled their transfer fee and threw in the logs.

"I decided to leave Recolta Laza for Stemnic Buda because they offered me 100,000 lei ($11.55) as a transfer fee, compared to 50,000 lei ($5.78) by the former club," Bargan said. In Romania, the monthly average wage is about $100.

"But the main reason for my departure was a truck of firewood given to me by the new club," said Bargan, who lives in a wood-heated house. "The club I quit offered me only a cartful to stay on."