We've been seeing transfer fees rise and rise, and now we have a new player on the block who seemingly is going to try and cherry pick the best players from every club around the world.
I'm not saying this as a United fan, but I'm speaking as a fan of football. The money levels that are in the game now are going to result in many clubs going out of business and the competition will be destroyed.
We've seen rich clubs before, I know I support one - but the threat posed by Manchester City's takeover needs to be considered by every single fan on the planet. Make no mistake about this, if this guy is serious then there will be no way to compete. We are talking about UNLIMITED funds here. City could conceivably bid double or even treble a player's value.
I feel FIFA need to treat this with the utmost seriousness - I for one will stop watching football if this future happens, because even with Abramovich, you knew there were limits. City have none - they don't need to budget.
It is time to put a curb on this - not only the Premiership will be affected, the Champions League could go the same way.
Not often I agree with Wenger, but in a climate that has allowed the richest club in the world (self made - money made on success) to be £800M in debt, Liverpool and Arsenal also in the red - and Chelsea who before Abramovich were £70M in the clarts. It is obcene that clubs are paying higher fees than ever before. And yes it's rediculous that United can find £30M when they are effectively £800M in debt. (Again FIFA allowing this to happen - surely FIFA's job is to safeguard clubs against this)
Perhaps it's time to finally accept the yanks have the right system in the NFL. Merchandise sales and revenue filters down to every team and the level of competition is constant. Young players get their breaks and become stars. Salaries are capped, roster sizes are regulated to ensure some kind of parity.
Picture the scene - it's 2020 and Man City are closing in on their fourth double in a row - sooner or later people are going to get bored (look at the SPL situation in Scotland) Every young player is snapped up and left to rot on the bench and no-one can compete.
That my friends is how football will die.
I'm not saying this as a United fan, but I'm speaking as a fan of football. The money levels that are in the game now are going to result in many clubs going out of business and the competition will be destroyed.
We've seen rich clubs before, I know I support one - but the threat posed by Manchester City's takeover needs to be considered by every single fan on the planet. Make no mistake about this, if this guy is serious then there will be no way to compete. We are talking about UNLIMITED funds here. City could conceivably bid double or even treble a player's value.
I feel FIFA need to treat this with the utmost seriousness - I for one will stop watching football if this future happens, because even with Abramovich, you knew there were limits. City have none - they don't need to budget.
It is time to put a curb on this - not only the Premiership will be affected, the Champions League could go the same way.
Not often I agree with Wenger, but in a climate that has allowed the richest club in the world (self made - money made on success) to be £800M in debt, Liverpool and Arsenal also in the red - and Chelsea who before Abramovich were £70M in the clarts. It is obcene that clubs are paying higher fees than ever before. And yes it's rediculous that United can find £30M when they are effectively £800M in debt. (Again FIFA allowing this to happen - surely FIFA's job is to safeguard clubs against this)
Perhaps it's time to finally accept the yanks have the right system in the NFL. Merchandise sales and revenue filters down to every team and the level of competition is constant. Young players get their breaks and become stars. Salaries are capped, roster sizes are regulated to ensure some kind of parity.
Picture the scene - it's 2020 and Man City are closing in on their fourth double in a row - sooner or later people are going to get bored (look at the SPL situation in Scotland) Every young player is snapped up and left to rot on the bench and no-one can compete.
That my friends is how football will die.