If that kind of release clause was the only way he'd sign for us, shouldn't the alarm bells have been ringing back then?? That smacks of wanting an easy way out if things don't improve for him (which arguably they have, looking at where the club is now!)
I'm not as clued up on the contracts as others i'm sure, but I don't know of any other players that have this kind of release clause (i.e, triggered if he gives us another year and at such a low value!!).
It's the amount that sits uncomfortably with me. The thought that our rivals are licking their lips at the prospect of signing one of the best CBs in the league, possibly Europe, for an absolute snip of £25m.