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As latest projections suggest unemployment will reach in excess of three million by next year, it is not just UEFA who are alarmed by Cristiano Ronaldo's mega-money move to Real Madrid.
Today sees the release of Looking For Eric - a film about a troubled postman who finds direction from another United No7, Eric Cantona - but the time when regular folk could find common ground with their idols appears more distant now than ever.
Ronaldo (right) will earn £183,000-a-week in his first year in Spain but an incremental increase will see that figure rise to a staggering £556,000-a-week in the sixth year of his contract.Spanish tax laws mean the winger will take home considerably more than he would have had he been obliged to pay the 50 per cent UK rate.
The 24-year-old will only pay 23 per cent tax on his earnings for his first five years in Spain and the total package on offer will net him £106m should he see out his contract.
These almost incomprehensible figures have understandably prompted widespread condemnation at a time when fans are being asked to pay more than ever before to see their team against a turbulent backdrop of the current global financial crisis.
"It is very puzzling at a time when football faces some of its worst ever financial challenges," said UEFA president Michel Platini.
"These transfers are a serious challenge to the idea of fair play and the concept of financial balance in our competitions. These excessive transfers are happening almost every day."
The Frenchman has long been a critic of the Premier League and its financial excess but surely now he must address the imbalance provided by a club who operate outside the boundaries of their rivals.
Real do not need to service their debt because they are classified as a non-profit social trust. They can consequently forego a payment of around £30m-a-year and their socio-political importance gives them insulation from creditors dissimilar to any other club.
They can therefore reap the benefits of their commercial alliances more fully and the strength of their brand has enabled them to sit at the top of Deloitte's Money League for the last four years. A seven-year deal television deal with MediaPro, signed in 2006, is thought to be worth £1billion alone - and the consequences are the unbridled spending of £59m on Kaka and £80m on Ronaldo.
"These are astronomical figures and from the wider perspective, this transfer, added to the one of Kaka, continues to give us cause for concern," said sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe.
"Competitive balance is not just a UK issue now, it's a European issue especially since new president Florentino Perez is now bringing the galacticos back to Real Madrid.
"These figures are simply beyond the understanding of most ordinary fans.
"I am worried that a small group of rich clubs are getting richer and that does affect the balance and the opportunities for the wider game.
"It is what motivated us to write to the Premier League, FA and Football League to express our concerns about transparency and balance."
Of course, football cannot be blamed for the global turmoil back here on planet reality and those within the game are right to profit as much as they can within the game's laws.
Footballers have short careers and it is undeniable that in the context of extortionate wages, Ronaldo's status as officially the best player in the world means he should be remunerated as such.
But it appears there is an increasing feeling that top clubs are not policed and seem free to run up jaw-dropping debts while monopolising the biggest competitions and in turn strengthening their grip on the largest revenue streams.
"When you look at this deal, you think football has gone absolutely mad," said Wigan chairman Dave Whelan, whose dismay may be tempered by the likelihood his club will indirectly benefit from the deal as United move for winger Luis Antonio Valencia to replace Ronaldo.
"Something has to happen because things can't go on like this," he added.
The game is yet see any consequential action from Platini's concern. UEFA officials said they hope to put forward new plans this year to tighten financial regulation such as cutting excessive club debt, imposing stricter rules on player transfers and limiting squad sizes.
They are also considering limiting the amount of revenue a club can spend on transfers and wages to about 45-55 per cent of revenue from ticket sales, television rights and sponsorship.
But until such rhetoric becomes reality, Perez will continue to take the game further away from its roots.
Reader views (24)
peter bench is absolutely correct , i live in england and when lewis hamilton won the championship i saw his wages could be 2 million pounds per week , now... he is last on th grid in the slivertsone it shows the amazing results are not down to him , his team hu ake the cars infact . i wonder why people dont cry about this , and tiger woods wages , maybe its not just jealousy just plain ignorance
- Lee, luton
To think that Stanley Matthews was quite happy to play for Stoke City for £20 per week and spectators were quite happy to go and watch him play for a couple of bob or so. The world hasn't progressed much in the intervening years has it.
- Len, Perth, Australia
Nothing wrong with supply and demand, it keeps business of all types in check. Football is no different.
My only quibble with the transfer amount is that a percentage of it should be distributed to the lower or even non league football clubs to help them survive, enhance their faclities and provide a link with the local community. Even 1 tenth of 1% of all transfers would bring a much needed boost to football at grass root levels and create much needed recreational facilities to many deprived areas of the country.
- Mr S.Port, London
As it goes Jimmy of St Albans; I love tennis as well; but playing it more than watching it….and I agree you get far better value for money than football.
QPR were my team though; and as Chelsea fans tell me; supporting QPR proves I don’t like good football…..LOL.
But in my time I did have great times; Rodney Marsh and Stan Bowles etc; it seemed like fun in those days and winning wasn’t everything; the day out was etc.
My kids were all athletes; even my youngest daughter won the Southern Area Junior Javelin Championship at Crystal Palace; and was London Schools Champion for four years running; then she left school…….LOL.
She always wanted to play football like her brothers; but in those days girls were not allowed to play with boys teams etc.
I am old now; but my memories are ever young.……..Mick,
- Mickyinlondon, london
Why 'staggering' or 'incomprehensible'? How much does Tiger Woods, Roger Federer or Sachin Tendulkar earn? Not to mention Tom Cruise, Elton John or any other in- demand entertainer. And why compare one individual - or pehaps a few - with a mass employment industry such as transport. Sharing out the extra money would be a few pence in modern society and modern GNP.
- Peter Bench, London
Let's kick advertising out of football.
- Tom, London
John of London. you are quite right. My son says writing in capitals on the net is the same as shouting. Actually at the age of eighty I find small print difficult to read without glasses. Also the small print on a Apple Mac, seems smaller than other computers.
No, my son is quite right when I read about politicians, footballers, B rated Celebes, Bob Crow, I am shouting.
Meanwhile my daughter says the real problem is I dont know how to spell check.
Actually I think the majority of people today are rather splendid, full of their own invigorating opinions, particularly the young, which of course is everyone under seventy nine.
- Alan Green, Woodford Green
Money talks.
Enough said.
- John L., Scarborough North Yorkshire, U.K.
The market controls the finances involved. It is a simple concept that knee-jerk complainers invariably ignore. The flip side of that is that the finances have a feedback effect on the market - self-adjusting balance (whether you like the levels or not). And blaming the players for accepting a lot of money from people who are telling them they are worth every penny? Get real! I'm sure these complainers turn down similar offers without thought - oh yeah, they don't get such offers in the first place, do they! Talent is a marketable commodity. End of story.
- Rogan, Irving
Alan Green, I read your comments quite a lot - and as often as not agree with them - but I wish you'd stop writing in block capitals! It makes it really quite difficult to read...
- John, London
Quote: Stu, Beckton; Yet you read the articles and expect your frequent comments to be taken seriously, Mickey??
If you mean me, Stu; I never expect anything at all, least of all being taken seriously; I just give my opinion.
Most of my comments are tongue in cheek; if you are from Beckton; then you should understand Londoners better than most.
I was there when we won the World Cup; I was there when MU won the European Cup; a long time ago I know; but being around for so many years now; I don’t need to watch every game going.
All though years ago; I used to take all my kids to watch even reserve games at places from Arsenal to Millwall etc; and believe it or not; I even saw Billy Wright playing against Arsenal one boxing day when I was a kid; my uncles took me; I think it was about 2 shillings to get in then; but it was a long time ago; it could have been half a crown.
I also ran lots of Sunday teams; but boxing was my real love; so don’t take everything I say seriously; its just my sense of humour; and nothing more……..LOL.
- Mickyinlondon, london
You can't argue with supply and demand.
There aren't many Ronaldo's about, so I can completely understand why he has gone for that much money.
He will make up the price to Real in shirt sales alone after the first couple of seasons.
Thats the beauty of capitalism!
I would pay £80 million for Ronaldo any day.....
- Kate, London
Why is it people scream when the tube workers go on strike for a measly 5% above the official rate of inflation when Ronaldo is getting £183,000 a week rising to £556,000 a week over 6 years?
- Terry Amber, London
I gave up watching live football years ago; it costs far to much for working class people to take their families to football matches.
You get used to not going to matches after a while; and I don't miss it at all now.
- Mickyinlondon, london
Have to agree entirely with you, Mickyinlondon.
I too, have given up going to football matches, due to the astronomical costs involved. I have grown sick of attending matches where major stars may be dropped because of an upcoming Champions league game. Sick of watching players/primadonnas play to a minimal standard less they get injured. Sick of Players getting paid astronomical wages even if they do not play.
For the past couple of decades I have been attending Wimbledon tennis championships. Remember the £0.75 per strawberry stories from the 80's?
This is wimbledon today: Price of ticket £46.00. I shall arrive at the courts at 11.00am I will watch 3 high quality matches in my alloted show court( Where all players will perform to their highest standard possible). I will have access to all 17 non-showcourts. I shall be able to watch other showcourts on Henman hill/Murray mount. I will be allowed to bring in a picnic along with a bottle of Wine/Champagne as well as several beers. I can also buy a pint of beer inside for £3.50 or any amount of food-Fish n chips,Pizza,Chinese etc- for £5.00. A huge bowl of strawberries and cream will cost me £2.50 Oh, and I will not leave until 9.30pm. Which sport is the working class sport again
- Jimmy, St Albans
I think football has lost touch with reality and I cannot fathom why fans still support the also ran clubs with hard earned money. Ronaldo is going to earn in a couple of weeks more than the average fan will earn in a lifetime and yet he is adored and worshipped - it is completely irrational.
- Jim, london
Yet you read the articles and expect your frequent comments to be taken seriously, Mickey??
- Stu, Beckton
It seems to me that most of the comments so far are from people who dont like football. To say "its 11 men kicking a peice of leather between some posts" is like saying Vincent Van Gogh did some cartoons. As with Art, if you have a passion for something then you pay money for it. I'm not justifying the cost to go to football or the obscene amounts of money involved, particularly with transfers or salaries, i'm just explaining the passion and it IS a worldwide passion. If you don't want to pay to see football then go and watch it on the pitches every sunday morning. It costs nothing and is usually very entertaining, one way or another.
- Paul R, London
Best thing to do. Dump Sty and get a foreign satellite. Then you can watch all the matches including 3pm Saturday games without funding people like Ronaldo. Absolutely disgusting. Soon the game will be forced to go back to its roots by going bust. The only 2 teams left in the premier league will be Arsenal and Tottenham because they live within their means.
- Terry Amber, London
I'm afraid this is just another case of the total inbalance in football today. In the one hand you have Real Madrid paying out £138M on just two players (with the possibility of more on the way) while in the other hand you have a whole football club (Newcastle Utd) up for sale for £100M and another equally famous club (Accrington Stanley) almost going out of business for an unpaid bill of only £300,000. There has to be a more fairier way of filtering the money the top level clubs get further down the leagues or we will continue to see more and more of the 92 league clubs and even more non-league clubs going to the wall while the rich continue to just get richer.
- Mark Hubble, Neath
Well done to my old friend Alex. Of course £80 million is over the top but it will be of great help to the club. Anyway Ronaldo's best days are already past. One can already see signs of the waist thickening, slowing of the reflexes, etc.
- Man U Fan, London
I gave up watching live football years ago; it costs far to much for working class people to take their families to football matches.
Sky killed it all in my opinion; and I would never have Sky in my home.
You get used to not going to matches after a while; and I don't miss it at all now.
- Mickyinlondon, london
Fotbalists are realy very important for human society.Hmm? More than doctors, engineers, scientists...Its shame our civilisation is't built on what we need but what we want.We are monkeys and we want to watch couple of guys runing on the grass and kicking ball and we are wiling to pay for it. It's so characteristic for as giving 80m for some spoiled child rather then save the money for schools hospitals or science. Disgusting
- Prague Wheel, Prague Czech Republic
ITS NOT ONLY FOOTBALL THAT HAS LOST TOUCH WITH REALITY. ITS EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIFE FROM THE BBC TO POLITICIANS. AND ITS OUR FAULT. WHO PAYS FOOTBALLS HIGH PRICES? US. WHO WORSHIPS THE BBC MINOR CELEBS`? US. DO MORE VOTE FOR BIG BROTHER OR SOME REALITY SHOW THAN IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. YES US.
- Alan Green, Woodford Green
It’s so disgustingly obscene and all just for a game of football in order to win some meaningless cup. All this money just to kick a ball between two posts. These people have truly taken leave of their senses. It’s really immoral. Cheque book football!
- Mel Barrows., Tenerife. Canary Islands.
