- Neymar’s move from Barcelona to PSG is the most expensive in football transfer history.
- This big-money spending is controversial, with some arguing that it’s bad for the sport.
Modern football is a high-stakes sport. The game is a far cry from the sport of just a few decades ago when the emphasis was on entertainment and skill. Today, it is all about results, and clubs are willing to spend vast sums of money to ensure they have the best players in their squads. This shift has led to a dramatic increase in the transfer fees paid for top players and their wages.
No transfer better defines the free-spending nature of modern football than that of Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior. Neymar’s move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) was a record-breaking deal in so many ways. BanklessTimes.com reports that his €222 million signing fee made him the most expensive footballer ever.
Neymar’s transfer fee eclipsed the previous record of €105 million that Manchester United paid Juventus for Paul Pogba. The deal also represented a dramatic increase on the €88 million that Barcelona had paid Brazilian side Santos FC for him just four years earlier.
His (Neymar’s) record-breaking transfer has remained a hot topic to date. BanklessTimes CEO Jonathan Merry recently weighed in on the situation. He explained,
Neymar is a world-class player and his transfer reflects that. I think it’s safe to say that Neymar is worth every penny PSG paid him. However, it could easily spiral out of control if every top player starts attracting outrageous transfer fees. Neymar’s transfer is a real test for the football system.BanklessTimes CEO, Jonathan Merry
Courting Controversy
There is no doubt that big-money transfers have had a profound impact on football. One could even argue that they have changed the game’s very nature. For example, some teams are more likely to spend big to sign a marquee player, while smaller clubs find it increasingly difficult to compete.
This gulf between the haves and have-nots has always been a part of football. But it has arguably never been more pronounced than it is today. Thanks to the vast sums of money clubs like Manchester City, PSG, and Newcastle United are throwing about. Wealthy owners willing to splash their cash on any player who takes their fancy bankroll these clubs.
Manchester City and PSG, for instance, have courted controversy with their transfer spending. Their unmatched finances have made them attract criticism for financial doping. The two teams have faced UEFA sanctions for breaching the body’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. Recently, LaLiga president Javier Tebas has suggested that the duo’s transfer activity threatens the European football ecosystem.
Bad for the Game
Critics argue that this spending is bad for the game, as it only exacerbates the gap between the rich clubs and their competitors. One of the main arguments against big money transfers is that they allow a selected few clubs to dominate the transfer market. That, in turn, harms the competitive balance of the sport.
Supporters of big-money transfers, however, argue that this is simply the natural evolution of the sport. As football has become more and more popular, the stakes have gotten higher and higher. To stay competitive, clubs need to be able to shell out big bucks for the best players. And if some teams can do this more easily than others, that’s just the way of the world.
They also argue that there is nothing wrong with wealthy owners using their money to help their clubs succeed. After all, isn’t that what they are supposed to do? Own a football club so they can make money and have fun along the way?
So, what is the answer? Should we allow teams to spend whatever they want on players? Or should we try to put a stop to these big-money transfers? The answer to this question is not easy, and there are valid arguments on both sides of the debate. However, one thing is clear: there’s a need to regulate transfer spending, which is what FFP aims to do.
Contributors
