Cause and effect relationship: Money & Football

Over the past few years we have witnessed outrageous, out-of-proportion bids for star players from unknown teams which we have trouble pronouncing, let alone spelling. The Football virus is very much active and it is now spreading to places it normally wouldn’t. Across the globe many teams have been trying very hard to sign a couple of famous players in order to lift the profile of their team. This way, by getting one famous player in their basket, they eventually attract more and over a process that could probably take a decade to finish, and establish themselves as a top club.

A perfect example would be the transfer of David Beckham to MLS outfit LA Galaxy. Indeed a risky move for the Brit but he managed to look beyond the short-term advantages that many criticize him for. Thanks to him, people now know that such a team exists. Soon, as expected, followed another star player, Thierry Henry and the list may have just begun, for teams from the MLS now have a keen eye on players from top European clubs and players are now more willing to move there than before because the project has more than just kicked off.

Obviously it requires money and resources to attract players to a not so famous club. Most of all it requires a promise of ambition because many players need to believe that the club can contest in all sorts of tournaments that will bring in trophies. This has become fascinatingly possible thanks to mega-rich folks who can afford to throw around several millions here and there. According to me, it’s quite a straight forward process, a billionaire (possibly least interested in football) has a slight liking toward say Paris or Los Angeles and decides that a metropolitan like this deserves a successful football club to add a feeling of unity around the city.

Game plan

Once the club is bought, the first step is to raid the transfer market looking for a name, yep, just a name, a name that can bring the club from virtually unknown to a team that people hear about on the news every now and then. The promise for ambition is essential and in come a few more not so spectacular, but decent players who bring the club its first title. With the expansion of the stadium and signing of a fancier sponsorship, the club is now appreciated by a large proportion of football fans.

A high-tech youth system is founded and from here, attraction of players becomes much easier and eventually they establish themselves as a respectable club contesting for trophies year in and year out. Although the theory may sound quite straight-forward we all know that in reality it obviously isn’t hard but easy or not this is the reality of what is happening in football nowadays. It definitely makes football more exciting as the competition increases and more players come into the picture. However, it is unfair when these very clubs, after years of spending, dominate success and tower over the rest of the clubs that have been built over centuries with hard-work and pride. It should also be noted that splashing the cash may not always lead to the success of a club, it may very well have the opposite effect and thanks to the new UEFA financial fair play rules there should be some form of fairness in the beautiful game.

Here are a few clubs in the making-

Manchester City (ENGLAND)- Since the purchase of the club by Abu Dhabi United Group (in 2008) the club has undergone fast developments all owing to the billions that have been invested since. This is a perfect example of how money has been utilized to bring success to a club, but might I say, it’s been a mesmerising amount of money indeed.

Paris Saint-Germain (FRANCE)- The club was bought only half a year ago by Qatar Investment Authority and they marked their ambition with the signing of Javier Pastore. It will take good number of years and a load more of effort for them to reach a status similar to City’s but the attraction of Paris should not be underestimated.

Anzhi Makhachkala (RUSSIA)- Billionaire Suleyman Kerimov bought the club, 2 transfer windows ago and in that period bought Roberto Carlos, Samuel Eto’o and Yuri Zhirkov and also promised to invest a large sum of money into infrastructure. Development seems fine but attraction is probably not their forte.

Al-Wasl (UAE)- The fact that Diego Maradona is paid 3 million pounds plus a private jet at his disposal for two seasons just tells you what the Arabs are capable of. Money is sure not a worry but it may take years of persuasion to bank roll a team of star players to head in their direction.

Malaga FC (SPAIN)- The first time an investor from the Qatar region to buy a Spanish club came in the form of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser. It is an exciting project whose main aim is to topple the Spanish elite. Manuel Pellegrini was soon appointed as manager and Ruud van Nistelrooy was also bought. It may take a few seasons more to make Barcelona and Real Madrid feel a pinch.