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The best football players in the world should have the pick of the best teams in the world, right?
Well, that’s not always the case. And that illusion of choice is becoming more and more prevalent.
Seb Stafford-Bloor explains why that is the case, and what the best players should do. Illustrated by Philippe Fenner.
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Received wisdom suggests that the better a footballer is the more options they should have but in the modern game where the elite teams enjoy unprecedented Prosperity it turns out it’s the reverse that’s true today the best footballers work in the world with fewer and fewer options and where Choice has essentially become a
Losery according to supply and demand this is how football should work when the very best footballers decide to leave their clubs they should have options in different countries from different teams the player would then have a choice to make which coach to play for in which country and in what
Tactical system surrounded by which teammates worldclass players are the scarce resource and yet increasingly football’s marketplace with its inflated economics and financial disparities doesn’t treat them as such the opportunities are what a scarce and players are almost designated Landing spots to illustrate how this has changed consider an example from the summer of
19 1996 When Alan Sheera left Blackburn Rovers and joined Newcastle for what was then a world record transfer fee of15 million Shera had been the Premier League’s top scorer for the past two seasons had also had a prolific European Championship with England winning the tournament’s Golden Boot and was
Considered among the best goal scorers in the world he joined Newcastle his hometown Club but also attracted interest that summer from Inter Milan Barcelona and Manchester United four different teams in three different countries all representative of different sorts of challenges and different styles of play 27 years later Harry Kane provided an interesting
Example in the summer of 2023 of how the space at football Summit has contracted arguably the world’s Premier goal scorer Kane was determined to leave Tottenham and yet he had surprisingly few options only one really and it was less than ideal Bayern Munich are a vast Club bigger and far more successful than
Spurs but Kane was joining at a time of boardroom uncertainty when the existing team was reaching the end of its cycle and when in in the immediate future Bayern would likely be facing some of the transitional challenges that Kane was actually trying to leave behind in North London but Kane joined anyway
Making a decision that described a few different issues the first was that there are now very few clubs in well football that can afford truly elite players Italian football’s Financial issues have been further exacerbated by the repeal of the growth decree which provided tax breaks for high income
Earners from abroad in Spain Barcelona’s crippling debt has been extensively covered as have La liga’s limits on what the club is able to spend each season on top of which those teams around the world who could have afforded Kane in the summer of 2023 excluded themselves from the process for different reasons
Chelsea and Arsenal could never have really agreed a deal with Tottenham because of historic rivalries Manchester City already had earling Holland Manchester United were limited by the Premier League’s profit in sustainability rules Paris sgain still had Kelly and mbappe and because of their domestic League status were probably a less than desirable option
And that characterizes the problem well players of Kane’s standing are too expensive for all but the very very few that’s one issue the second is that major transfers always depend on timing ordinarily at Major clubs and in the most important positions one player has to leave to create a vacancy for another
To fill finally because the biggest European leagues are no longer equal the wealthiest clubs and highest paid coaches are generally clustered in one or at best two countries meaning that domestic rivalries are much more likely to be obstructive the cumulative impact with each of those factors considered is
That elite players moving have a narrow number of options and have to accept certain compromises if they wish to move ironically the more talented and expensive the player the bigger that problem seems to get Harry Kane is just one example he will likely not immediately win the trophies he’d H for
At Bayern despite playing very well he’s also suffered criticism for his playing style really as a result of his team’s poor overall form and its flaws but European football has become littered with examples of outstanding or enormously talented players players apparently having less choice about the steps taken in their career than they
Would have done in a different era romu Lukaku moving to Chelsea from Inter Milan in 2021 Christopher and kungu joining Chelsea from rby leig in 2023 Jaden Sancho leaving bsia Dortmund for Manchester United in 20121 Cristiano Ronaldo departing Old Trafford being unable to find a suitable Club in Europe
And choosing to move to Saudi Arabia instead neyar Matias Nunes Mason Mount all of those transfers were different financially for the players involved they were each beneficial nevertheless none of them represented an optimal scenario in fact for each transfer that truly is a perfect marriage Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid for instance
Where he was given an ideal role and surrounded by similarly aged teammates who complemented his abilities there are many more which are obviously not that’s either because of a lack of playing time a tactical unsuitability a loss of prestige or Limelight or simply because a player joined a club at An
Inconvenient time the fewer destination clubs there are the greater the risk that a player’s career and a club’s need did not align and that could even be true for Killian mbappe when he moves to Real Madrid it will be the kind of stage his talent demands but he’ll have to
Adapt his role around venicius Jr with whom he shares so many positional Tendencies one is the world’s best forward who likes to play from the left the other is the world’s best left Winger most likely mbappe will be highly successful wherever he goes but the game’s finest and most desired player
Still having to encounter an even minor comp location does show just how little space there is at the top of football if you like this video please consider subscribing to the channel the athletic is home to some of the world’s best sports journalists including David orstein Daniel Taylor Ole Kay Amy
Lawrence and Rafa honstein with the latest transfer news and insight on every Premier League Football story that matters the athletic.com puts you inside football and you can try it for free now for 30 days see the link in the description
30 Comments
I think one thing you missed is why is this the case? Alan Shearer was chosen as an example, but was choice always true back then? What has actually changed?
I was precisely talking about this with my brother in law the other day, concerning Mbappé, I was arguing he'll have no other choice than to renew with PSG. Everybody talks about him going to Madrid, but I don't see it. Madrid is a proud clube. The proudest there is, the biggest, the best. You don't snub Madrid. Period. He did so, quite in a humiliating fashion. I don't see the Madridismo embracing him there. Plus, with Bellingham scoring like a striker, does Madrid really need Mbappé?
What other options are there? Well, Barça and every Italian giant, may have all the prestige in the world, but can't pay even a third of his current wages. Bayern can, but tipically won't. He can go to the Premier League. Although it's a risky business for a player like Mbappé to move to the PL without accepting the fact that you may very well be playing Europa League in any given season. See, there are 6 big clubs in England and only 4 CL spots. Inevitably, 2 big teams are left out. Apart from Man City, no other team seems secure in a CH spot every season. Nothing like, I don't know, Atlético Madrid in Spain, no matter how poor a season they have, it's close to impossible for them not to land in a top 4 spot, there are simply no better teams. So either he joins Man City (I don't see it) or he risks joining a Chelsea or a Man Utd and hope they get their act together and qualify, every season, for the Champions League. Where else can he earn big bucks while always qualifying for the Champions League? Well… PSG.
This is a nothing burger video.
Don't waste your time.
This channel has really been making lots of meaningless vids acting as if it's a great topic they are discussing.
The ending of the video basically means that yes this is a choice, how many times humans are presented with a choice between multiple perfect options?
Obviously they will have to compromise and adapt with each choice.
There rarely ever is a perfect option.
It doesnt apply for Mbappe tho most premier league teams can afford his salary and bonuses and they showed interest but it was reported since 2021 that he only wanted Real Madrid his wages isnt too high for the premier league
Real madrid to real galacticos
Calling Vini Jr the best left winger in football is actually ridiculous. He has such poor decision making and you just have to watch a few Madrid games to see how hit and miss he actually is.
De Gea
Vini to PSG or prem
This is titled like a philosophy video
World-class players have more freedom than the video suggests, but with a caveat. They can choose any club if they're willing to take a significant pay cut (Lewandowski anyone?). Harry Kane's situation highlights the issue of timing. Waiting too long can limit options due to transfer fees.
There's also the classic "money vs. dream club" dilemma. Holding out for top dollar restricts them to a few wealthy teams. This is where some players end up in less prestigious leagues like Saudi Arabia to maintain their wages.
But superstars like Messi are redefining the game! Lower salary, less prestigious league, but a stake in the business? That's innovative thinking! Maybe more footballers should consider negotiating for a piece of the club instead of just focusing on wages. The business of football is changing, and the best players need to adapt and become businessmen too!
My sympathy is limited. Clubs and players have no one but themselves to blame. We have been hearing for years that «your price is what people are willing to pay for you». Well we have now reached the point that almost no one is willing to pay it anymore
Why did you leave out early summer 2023 rumors of Kane possibly going to regarding Real Madrid? Challenge there was the strained relationship between Real and Daniel Levy regarding the history of the deals done with Modric and Bale.
Players have plenty of choice – they just prioritise their pay. Mbappe could sign for any club in the world if he lowered his demands accordingly. Same goes for every other player mentioned. As for transfer fees, your example with Kane was of his own making because of the contract he signed. Ronaldo went to Saudi for money and to be the icon of the league. He's at the end of his career so can't sign for the biggest clubs but lower his pride and demands and he could sign for any of the others.
Bottom line is players are more greedy than they've ever been and its impacting our game
too much talk. The problem is the ridiculous amounts of money concentrated in just a couple of clubs with also small clubs getting to spend money big clubs from other countries don't have. Modern football should crash and burn and I think in the next generation it will
As a bayern fan, i disagree with your kane example. We are in the Quarterfinale of the Championsleague and the only reason we are not on top of the bundesliga, is that leverkusen plays the 3rd best season any team ever played in the bundesliga.
they could take a pay downgrade…
Kane was 30 and Alan Shearer was 26. Big difference
the real reason is the player themselves asking too much in relative to their value.
Tifo football has run out of ideas to make videos but want to keep producing them weekly so now we will get dribble like this
While players could take a wage and go anywhere the backing and managers behind their brand means they can't just lose all those people money. It's a mutually agreed deal in contracts I imagine to keep playing for big clubs.
PSG, United, Real, Barcelona, Bayern, City and maybe Liverpool at a stretch are about the only choices if you are the very best on the planet. Real, Barcelona and United will get you the most exposure – maybe City & PSG will give you the most money and give your family jobs too.
Harry Kane is a terrible example to use, he could have left for City or PSG or even Madrid at various points if he'd had the common sense not to sign a 6-year contract and hand complete control of his destiny Daniel Levy.
Great video
Any market being let 'free' for enough time leads to monopolies.
And in real life there is no free market. The illusion of choice afterall.
Mbappe doesn't have to adapt, Vinicius is the one who needs to adapt.
“It’s lonely at the top”…quite literally.
well the players EXPECT that amount of money that only a few clubs can pay, you can't take that out of the equation
Great Content!!
To little supply demanding too much money
Zww
This man’s voice helps me sleep 🤣🤣🤣