Real Madrid sign Karim Ben Zee Maaaaa

[all_funkt_up]

Thats a great name isnt it, especially if your from glasgee,

"eh, who's that wee lad there playing for Real?" -

"oh thats Kaaaa Reeeeem Bennn Zeeeeee Maaaaaa, so it is, eh, och" -

"oh right enough..."

Yeah, it would appear that Karim has signed for Real, which then really creates a couple of questions:

a) how will madrid accomodate all these attacking players in their team?

b) how pissed off will ferguson be about this!!!

c) is it illegal for spanish clubs to buy defenders, have real madrid reached their quota of 1 decent defender in the team, hence they will not buy any more?

[slick]

Seems Madrid are really going for it again and it also shows Man U have a tight rein on their budget, the rags were desperate to buy him after losing Tevez and ronaldo but it seems the £35mill was out of their reach or more like the Glaziers werent going to risk that amount after being bit by Berbatov last year.

[rcgills]

Originally Posted by all_funkt_up

a) how will madrid accomodate all these attacking players in their team?

b) how pissed off will ferguson be about this!!!

c) is it illegal for spanish clubs to buy defenders, have real madrid reached their quota of 1 decent defender in the team, hence they will not buy any more?

a) Don't know, but many more of them (they reckon David Silva is next) and Casillas will be getting worried, as the only spare place left is going to be in goal.

b) Pass

c) Nope, Madrid signed a defender last week, Albiol from Valencia.

[all_funkt_up]

Originally Posted by slick

Seems Madrid are really going for it again and it also shows Man U have a tight rein on their budget, the rags were desperate to buy him after losing Tevez and ronaldo but it seems the £35mill was out of their reach or more like the Glaziers werent going to risk that amount after being bit by Berbatov last year.

I think there's a few factors in play here.

First off, the recent 10p in the £1 tax rise effectively hits top earners by £10'000 in every £100'000 they earn per week. So straight away, clubs have to pay their players 10% more just to be on an even keel with where they were before the tax rise. Couple this with the favourable tax rates in Spain for foreign workers and you have a massive difference.

Basically, to compete with Real offering 80k a week for example, United have to offer 110k a week. You then also factor in the recent changes in the exchange rate (eur/gbp) and you have a massive swing there. A player taking his £ and putting them back home as EUR is a further 15-20% out of pocket compared to a few summers back.

The Premier League has gone from being the most attractive place to play, to the second most attractive place. United cant break the bank and offer someone 150k a week so they are on par with madrid's offer of 110k a week (for example) because then all of their players would want a comparable wage rise. The likes of rooney, ferdinand etc would all demand more money if some little upstart like Benzema comes in on stratospheric wages.

It's a sticky situation for clubs and I have no doubt this is why the top players (of the day) are no longer seriously being linked with a move here. The likes of Villa, Silva, Benzema, Ribery, Ronaldo, Kaka are all looking at a move to Spain or have done so. Even Prem players like Alonso, Vidic et al are looking at moving away from Le Prem.

[Kiko]

Originally Posted by rcgills

a) Don't know, but many more of them (they reckon David Silva is next) and Casillas will be getting worried, as the only spare place left is going to be in goal.

b) Pass

c) Nope, Madrid signed a defender last week, Albiol from Valencia.

People going on about Madrid not bothering with a defence but seem to be forgetten the Albiol signing which i think is a good bit of business and him and Pepe will be pretty good in that backline. Ramos very good too and all they are really lacking is a left back as Marcelo/Heinze aren't up to much imo.

Benzema, Kaka and Ronaldo will easily fit into the line up easily. I don't see any difficulty with how they will be fit in. Probably like for like replacements for Robben, Higuain/Raul (Interesting to see who they drop there) and Kaka taken a position that they really missed last season linking midfield with attack.

I still think Barcelona will be the team to beat again though.

[Kiko]

Originally Posted by all_funkt_up

The Premier League has gone from being the most attractive place to play, to the second most attractive place. United cant break the bank and offer someone 150k a week so they are on par with madrid's offer of 110k a week (for example) because then all of their players would want a comparable wage rise. The likes of rooney, ferdinand etc would all demand more money if some little upstart like Benzema comes in on stratospheric wages.

It's a sticky situation for clubs and I have no doubt this is why the top players (of the day) are no longer seriously being linked with a move here. The likes of Villa, Silva, Benzema, Ribery, Ronaldo, Kaka are all looking at a move to Spain or have done so. Even Prem players like Alonso, Vidic et al are looking at moving away from Le Prem.

I have never understood this thinking in bold.

When has the Premier League EVER been the most attractive league to go to? I really have to rack my brain to think of the last world class player that moved to the Premiership.

The premiership has always turned players into world class but have never attracted the big names before.