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Ulica 17, 987 65 Mesto
09 / 876 54 321 0905 123 456
info@spolocnost.sk www.spolocnost.sk
(published in Slovak Sport Daily)
What’s going on in football? This summer didn’t just bring a record total for Slovak transfers, it also saw a global record fall. The €105 million move of Pogba to Manchester United took everyone’s breath away, and the €90 million fee for Higuaín to Juventus, fifth largest in history, barely raised eyebrows. The most expensive players in the world were supposed to be Cristiano and Lionel, yet neither seems in any hurry to transfer anywhere...
Is this normal? Ethical? The entire football world was debating. Among hundreds of critical voices, two grumbles stood out—both from the managers of major rivals. Arsenal’s Arsène Wenger called it “total madness and unethical,” and Liverpool’s Jürgen Klopp declared, “I would never buy a player for that amount.” The ethics of transfers can be debated endlessly without a clear answer. But in the free world of football, no one regulates specific transfer fees. Clubs participating in UEFA competitions only have to respect Financial Fair Play rules, which currently allow for a transitional-period loss of up to €30 million. Manchester United will surely stay within that limit.
From a footballing standpoint, there’s no debate. Pogba is outstanding, even if his Euros performance wasn’t ideal. Was the transfer economically justified? Time will tell, especially if he stays injury-free and United succeeds. Compared to the €75 million spent on Di María, €105 million for Pogba may even look like a bargain. Marketing? It wasn’t the primary driver. Plenty of No. 6 United shirts will be sold, but nowhere near the level of Ronaldo’s white jerseys. Simply put, Manchester United could afford this transfer. It’s the third-richest club in the world in both value and income. Even without winning the Premier League or Champions League, United’s annual revenue has topped €500 million for three straight seasons. The Premier League’s billion-euro TV deal, combined with top-tier marketing and merchandising, ensure juicy budgets.
Elite professional sport is an ever-growing industry. The top 20 football clubs see revenue growth of roughly 10 percent per year. And that growth will continue. If not for Brexit’s impact on foreign players and the pound, it would be even faster in England. In fact, 8 of the 9 most expensive transfers in history have occurred since 2013. The only earlier one? Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Real Madrid in 2009.
Will Pogba’s record last? Eventually, one of the clubs with more than €500 million in yearly income (currently Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester United) will break it. Smaller clubs won’t take that kind of risk—unless they make multiple high-value sales. United’s coach Mourinho, typically cheeky, responded to rival criticism of the €105 million fee by saying: “I don’t think those managers ever had to deal with this kind of problem.” The trend of eight-figure transfers above €30 million is certain to continue. We’ve already seen three Chinese deals exceed €40 million and that market is only just warming up.
What will football fans say to the world? Nearly three years ago, in this same column (September 3, 2013), when Bale’s then-record move to Real Madrid caused a stir, I wrote: to the critics, let’s just point to the sums circulating in American football, boxing, or the movie industry.