Despite recession in several countries, inflation is rampant in international football. This is evident by the figures released before the first transfer window closes on Monday 2 September. Gareth Bale’s much anticipated transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid, for a world record fee of £86 million or `860 crores will be the icing on the cake.
Other big money spenders this season have been the French clubs Paris St Germain and Monaco, with powerful financial backing from West Asian investors. Lanky striker Edinson Cavani moved from Napoli to PSG for £57 million or `570 crores. Monaco, who have not even qualified for the prestigious Uefa Champions League and have a modest stadium capacity of 18,500, roped in prolific Columbian striker Falcao for `530 crores.
Brazilian super star Neymar joined Barcelona from Santos for `500 crores. So the total money spent on transfers this summer will be staggering.
The most expensive transfer in the Barclays Premier league is Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk to Manchester City for `350 crores. Till now Manchester City has spent `833 crores, the maximum in transfer fees. This figure could increase, as perturbed by the injuries to central defenders Vincent Kompany and Matija Nastasic, they are persuading FC Porto’s highly rated French defender Eliaquim Mangala to shift allegiances, for a sum of `450 crores.
The Premiership, regarded as the most competitive (newly-promoted Cardiff City upset runners-up Manchester City 3-2 in their second league fixture) and watched soccer league in the world, has had the most lucrative transfers. All 20 clubs have made transfers to strengthen their squads.
Newly-promoted Hull City, despite being in debt, has purchased 10 players. Cardiff City the 46th club to appear in the Premier League, since 1992-93 smashed the club’s transfer record three times in three weeks to bolster their squad. They bought the 6ft 5in tall Danish striker Andreas Cornelius for `75 crores, central defender Steve Caulker for `80 crores and Chilean international midfielder Gary Medel for `95 crores.
As the Premier League’s new domestic TV deal is worth £3.018 billion, survival means an enhanced share of revenue. So the newly-promoted clubs purchase players as an investment for future prosperity.
Sometimes purchases are made because of the manager’s game plan. By omitting his trio of recognised strikers in the vital match against Manchester United, Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho indicated that he wanted a new leader of the attack.
So Chelsea have purchased veteran Samuel Et’o of Cameroon from Anzi Makachakia (Russia). Spurs have already spent massive sums to purchase four new players. but they need a replacement for Bale. So they are trying to secure playmaker Christian Eriksen from Ajax Amsterdam for a sum of ` 120 crores.
There is a major difference between the way transfers take place in Europe and India. In European professional football, the transfer fee goes to the selling club. The sold player gets a weekly wage which for stars like Wayne Rooney could be `2.5 crores. In India, the player gets the entire transfer fee and the club from which he is sold gets nothing.