THE LOVE STORY OF FOOTBALL AND MONEY

Football, the most popular sport in the world is more than a sport for the people of Europe and South America. No wonder that some Businessmen treat it as a great source of income as it estimated to be followed by 3.5 billion people across the world. Football is all about passion and respect. Players like Pele, Maradona, Platini, George Best played the game with their heart. Now a days football is treated as a source of income for many players and businessmen. Is the limitless flow of money killing the passion of the game? 

Real Madrid football club started spending huge money to bring star players. Real Madrid splashed £37million for the controversial transfer of Portugal legend Luis Figo from Barcelona in 2000. It was followed by French legend Zidane moving to Spanish capital for a fee of £45millions from Juventus in 2001, which was a world record signing at that time. Later Kaka, Ronaldo, Benzema all arrived at the club for huge money. Losblancos mainly considered bringing star players to the club rather than signing players who can fulfill their requirement.

Real Madrid had spent a huge sum of £815.2 millions in past decade. Florentino Perez, the club’s president is well known for his business mind. He always targets star players so as to increase the craze of club. And his plans worked as Real Madrid became the first club to surpass €500 million revenue threshold. The revenue of Madrid this season reached €512.6 millions(£414.7 millions) which is 7% more than previous year. Here Madrid doesn’t stand alone, you have the following presidents/owners Sandro Rossell(Barcelona), Sheikh Mansour(Manchester City), Nasser Al-Khelaifi (PSG),  Dmitry Rybolovlev (AS Monaco), Roman Abramovich(Chelsea) who have also splashed cash into their respective football clubs.
                                 
Here, take a look at money splashed by owners into their clubs:-
Manchester City (since 2008): £930.4 million
AS Monaco (since 2012): £106.1 million
PSG (since 2011): £270 million
Liverpool (since 2007): £317 million
Barcelona (since 2003): £800.35 million
Real Madrid (since 2003): £815.2 million
Bayern Munich (since 2012):  £112 million
Anzhi Makhachkala (since 2012): £105 million
Chelsea(since 2003): £683.75 million

This free spending of money is mainly to increase income. Considering the world record move of Bale to Madrid, many questioned the signing. Ozil, who already proved himself at the club was sold to Arsenal to recoup the money for the move of Bale. This will definitely increase the craze of club and will increase income. But what if Bale fails? “Real madrid is the best club and he is best player. Best player needs to play at the best club.”  Perez already said it 4 times.                         

There are some players who are bought for record fee and failed to establish themselves at the club. Kaka falls first in the list. Kaka arrived at Madrid as the best player in the world. But he failed to cope himself at the club. Fernando Torres, who is still the most costly signing in premier league, is a disaster. He failed to show his glimpses of Liverpool and Athletico Madrid. Andy Carroll, Samir Nasri, Stewart Downing, Lukaku, Shevchenko also fall in this list. The heavy price tag they carry increases the expectations on the players and so the pressure.
               
Clubs are splashing money at the top players which they can’t reject. Transfer of Falcao to AS Monaco is purely based on money. Falcao, who is in the form of life snubbed Chelsea, Madrid, PSG to join Monaco. Transfer of Cavani to PSG is also a similar saga. Thiago Silva, the main target of Barcelona decided to stay at PSG, because he thought Barcelona offered too less money and he has a family to feed.

Clubs are concentrating to bring star players rather than signing their requirements. Bale to Madrid, Cavani to PSG, Kevin de Bruyne, Andrew schrulle and Willian to Chelsea, Neymar to Barcelona,  Ozil to Arsenal, Negredo and Jovetic to Manchester city, Fellaini to united are some of them. This will increase income of the club but will do no good for the team or player.

Football is all about passion, respect and flow of money will hurt the cause of the game. Football will be more interesting and when it is treated as game rather than a business and an occupation. Here’s where the clubs need to learn from Arsenal and Dortmund. Though they lose their star players every year, they have great following among football fans.