Saiyed Karim
There is no secret that top clubs around Europe panicked last season as they saw their big spending ways and precarious business models challenged. The fact that games were played with empty stadiums added to the misery.
After proposing a Super League to UEFA for several years, top clubs across Europe decided to break away and finally forma Super League on their own this season. A desperate attempt to balance the books and secure further financing, or it was portrayed in that way.
What happened next is an open secret as fans protested and one by one all the clubs dropped out, with many offering apologies. Manchester United and other Premier League clubs were slapped with a collective £22m fine.
The dust settled and the transfer window opened. Glazers and Ed Woodward who were already facing repeated protests find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place. Fans expect big transfer budgets to be spent, but not at the cost of accepting radical plans to disrupt the football industry.
That said, the effects of the Super League falling through appear to have been more impactful on clubs abroad. This has led to an unprecedented offloading of high value players, as teams in Italy and Spain especially look to find new homes for their biggest earning stars.
Here are just some of the players who have been turned into millionaire nomads, on the hunt for the last scraps of football’s boom years. Who knows, maybe Man United can pick up a bargain or two in the process.
Ronaldo – Too Rich for the Old Lady
Ronaldo made his case for still being one of the deadliest strikers in the world when he upset the betting tipsters to claim the golden boot award at Euro 2020.
Despite his exploits, the Portuguese were pretty poor throughout the championships. It has simply added to the thought that Ronaldo is sacrificing overall team play to maintain his goal-scoring stats. That appears to be the opinion of Juventus team chiefs, who are paying a premium for a striker.
The Portuguese superstar appears to deliver nowhere near the amount of defensive cover and assists that his striking rivals do – such as Romelu Lukaku. There are now strong suggestions that Ronaldo could be farmed out to a club who can afford his wage bill and most William Hill promo code users are betting on that club being either PSG or Man United.
Unfortunately for the Red Devils it would seem that PSG are in the box seat to sign the Portuguese, with the lure of the Paris life-style. That PSG team is beginning to look scary!
Raphael Varane – Surplus to Ancelotti’s Requirements
Carlo Ancelotti is in the process of weeding out the fat that is clinging to the bones of Real Madrid. With players such as Raphael Varane and Vinícius Júnior being offered out to potential suitors.
Sergio Ramos already made the jump to PSG after his ludicrous wage demands were shot down by the Bernabeu hierarchy. Things were made clear that a full-scale car boot sale is going on in Spain at the moment. Man United appear likely to benefit as Varane’s move to Old Trafford is more close than ever.
Inter Milan Exodus Could Bear Fruit
Alarm bells were set ringing at Inter Milan almost as soon as the Serie A title celebrations were over. Antonio Conte left the club he led to the league crown, citing that the club had not agreed to back him in the transfer market.
The first high profile name to leave the club was Achraf Hakimi. The full-back garnered a €60m transfer fee from the cash-rich PSG. Other big names said to be up for sale include Marcelo Brozovic, Milan Skriniar, and Lautaro Martinez. All of whom would add quality to Manchester United.
If reduced numbers of fans are only allowed back into stadiums this coming season, then perhaps even more players in Spain and Italy will be up for grabs.
