please explain paying up contracts on unwanted players

For example: Cornelius on 50,000 a week and we paid his contract up. But how did we save money by not keeping him if we paid up contract.

We didn't pay it up in full. I think it was about 60%.

I thought we paid up the rest of this year

For example: Cornelius on 50,000 a week and we paid his contract up. But how did we save money by not keeping him if we paid up contract.

i think we only paid up the first year of his contract not the full 5 years

I wish we kept him.