Yeh Barcelona were certainly messing us about that summer. Twice to boot. It's not just us though, Bayern bought Martinez off Bilbao and had loads of problems, eventually going to court over it. These Spanish clubs must employ the sort of bellends TV and phone companies use to try and make it so difficult to break out of a contract. They are all at it. For the Spanish clubs, it's a soap opera. If they don't look like they have done everything possible to make a player stay or made the player look like he's causing trouble. The fans turn on them so quickly. It's about more than football in Spain, it's about politics, appearance, and standing. Not saying it is, just that history shows us the Spanish are a pain in the arse to deal with.
I do like the fact Ramos gave a press conference yesterday saying he never wanted to leave and then basically begged the fans to love him again.
I don't think they are asking for any more money but more a case of delaying things constantly. Giving us a date and then moving it for various excuses. Oh, sorry but he wants to play in the super cup, ow he wants to play in the Spanish super cup, now he needs to stay until Neymar is better.... It's almost petty. We may well be haggling over a few million (it's a few million still. Huge money in reality) but I doubt it's as big a sticking point as made out. There's absolutely no way Woodward went to Barcelona yesterday to make the same offer either. The guys where he is for a reason, he's not an absolute moron.
By the way you do know it's being reported that Pedro has actually agreed personal terms with United.
It's a circus, the whole league. It was like someone trying to defect to the enemy and then when the wars is over, claims how he was always for the people. As it's a soap opera, the fans lap it up and forget all about the crazy **** before. I like how we've given the Spanish clubs a bit of a taste of their own medicine, even if it was futile. Ramos by all accounts serious considered it. It would have been a huge coup for the league and U.S. At least we cost Madrid a few million
I have seen this. I am always dubious of these claims as its actually breaking the rules. We may have an agreement in principle, as in, we will pay you this much for this long and you will get x amount if these targets are hit, but no formal agreement, ie not signed paperwork. A player saying the are happy with those terms hasn't necessarily agreed to them. Again, I may be wrong though.
Not in Spain. The buy out clause there is between the club and the player - the player can buy out the remainder of their contract by paying the specified amount. That allows them to negotiate personal terms with any club they want - they are allowed to agree the terms with their new club before they break the contract with their old club as the fee is set so there are no negotiations. That's what we did with Herrera and Chelsea did with Costa. The release clause in England is different - that's the one that is paid by another club to release a player from their contract, which then allows them to negotiate. That's the one we used with Jones.
Rumours in the paper now that we've made an official 60m bid for Muller, and that Chelsea have made a bid for Pedro as well. Must say if I had to pick one I'd go for Muller as he would be a better fit for what we need at the moment, however he is much less likely to be sold than Pedro so I'd hate us to end up with neither...
We got as much chance of Woodward winning a Mensa award as we have of him signing Muller. The guy's a grade a A muppet.
Latest rumour is the Saints player Mane. If it's pace Mad Louis wants then Mane is your...man. Quickest player in the PL. I wouldn't be against that signing. He dives more than Ashley Young though.
Would you be happy with what he will cost though? I bet your valuation is different to ours... Also is Stuart Mathieson (sp?) from MEN a credible journo?
Potential to be a cracker of a player, but I think it's a season too early for him to make that step up. You'd not see a penny out of £30m for him either I'd guesstimate.
Yeah, good guess. Like when Shaw wasn't available at any cost last year? Having quibbled over a couple of million for a proven winner in Pedro I'm fairly certain you lot won't get anywhere near £30 million for a player who is essentially potential.
Saying that, with his age/potential ceiling, I'd rather have Mané than Pedro. If you're really determined, you'll get him I guess. That's football (sadly).
Mane would be ok. Needs to stop diving though. Fast as lightening and would certainly get on behind sides. Scores a few goals too doesnt he? Think van Gaal is impressed with Januzaj a lot which has helped him drop Pedro interest. Who knows.
