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£100m Kaka bid sparks warning from Wenger
James Olley15 Jan 2009
Arsene Wenger today expressed his concern about Manchester City's attempts to sign Kaka from AC Milan for £100million.
The Arsenal manager, who has always used his club's money prudently, said he feared the whole transfer market would be destabilised and claimed that City's Abu Dhabi owners were not living in the "real world".
Wenger hopes to tie up his own deal for a striker before the end of the month but is playing hardball over a fee for Andrei Arshavin.
Zenit St Petersburg want £20m whereas the Gunners boss does not want to break the Arsenal club record of £13m, paid for Sylvain Wiltord in 2001.
The contrast with City's lavish spending plans could not be starker and Mark Hughes insisted today the move for Kaka was still on, despite rumours to the contrary.
Wenger, though, is worried about the effect such a deal might have on the Premier League.
He said: "It doesn't look real to me at all. If you say to me I am a billionaire, I say 'okay' but I don't know what it really means.
"It doesn't look in connection with today's world because the economic situation is quite worrying.
"I don't feel in connection with City at all because we live in a football club who lives in the real world. That means we spend the money we make from our income.
"The implications would be a disturbance on the market - an inflationary trend in a deflationary world."
Hughes said he is being kept fully informed of progress being made in City's move for Kaka. It had appeared the City staff were being left in the dark after Hughes's assistant manager Mark Bowen said in a radio interview that the transfer was moving closer before sources in the United Arab Emirates claimed the deal was off.
But Hughes said: “I saw those reports. You have to bear in mind the people who have been given a platform do not represent [owner] Sheikh Mansour or [chairman] Khaldoon [Al Mubarak].
“I do not think they should be given a platform because what they are saying is completely untrue. Negotiations are still taking place.”
City also remain determined to land West Ham striker Craig Bellamy in the January transfer window despite having a third bid of £10m rejected by the Upton Park club.
Wenger revealed talks are ongoing with Zenit over Arshavin but admits a deal is still some way off.
“I am very hopeful,” said Wenger. “We are in negotiations, yes, but we want to respect our principles.”
Reader views (10)
Wengers right, if city pay £100 million for Kaka then West Ham will demand £30/£40 million for Bellamy, you can bet the hammers are waiting to see this one through and then raise their price for Bellamy and the city owners will deserve everything they get.
- Jd, London, 16/01/2009 09:27
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beside the 100 million city want to spend on Kaka. to wenger even 30 million would look out of this world if they have only paid 13 million for wiltord in 2001 and thats a club record for a club that want to win champions league, league and finish 4th. 13 million? while chelsea, united, liverpool are paying an average 18 million for players.
- Joe, london, 16/01/2009 09:27
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Brian in Wiltshire....Show some respect.
Calling Arsene Wenger an idiot shows how much of a person you are.
He's achieved more than you ever will.
- Ed Baines, London, UK, 15/01/2009 19:32
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IF THIS DEAL GOES THROUGH IT WILL HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON PREMIERSHIP TRANSFERS. IT IS NOT REAL. IT WOULDN'T BE REAL AT 50 MILLION POUNDS LET ALONE DOUBLE THAT AMOUNT.
- Kypros Shacolas, Nicosia - Cyprus, 15/01/2009 19:30
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No one is worth that sort of money. I agree with Wenger, it not the real world. It is absolutely ridiculous.
- Andrew, Denver, USA, 15/01/2009 19:21
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Kippax Blueboy, Manchester
Indeed it does happen in other businesses, you've heard of headhunting, havent you? But given time The greedy footballers and agents will go the way of Lehman Brothers & CO.
- James Hennessy, london england, 15/01/2009 17:27
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And if Wengers losers had the money they wouldnt buy him? yeh yeh yeh Mr Winger , no one takes any notice of anything that idiot has to say .
- Brian, Wiltshire, 15/01/2009 17:09
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Why not do as they do in North American sports, no transfer fee, just trades for players, this way a club must have to give up players to obtain a wanted one.
- John W, hamilton canada, 15/01/2009 16:55
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Arsne Wenger?
All principles and no trophy's
- James Hennessy, london england, 15/01/2009 16:34
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Why blame City?
It's AC Milan who are being greedy.
City are just offering what they believe will pry Kaka away from AC Milan.
Chelsea made a bid of over £60M last year that was turned down.
I am personally against transfer fees, it doesn't happen in any other form of business.
I do want to see the best players in the world in the Premiership and Kaka is in the world elite.
- Kippax_Blueboy, Manchester, 15/01/2009 16:20
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