2021/22 Premier League & General Football Discussion

[MUSC4EVER]

Arsenal's Hector Bellerin joins Real Betis on loan.
Arsenal also looking to sign Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Brighton sign left back Marc Cucurella from Getafe for £15.4 million.
Barcelona defender Emerson Royal having medical at Spurs ahead of £25.7 million transfer.
West Ham sign Croatia midfielder Nikola Vlasic from CSKA Moscow.
Moise Kean has re-joined Juventus from Everton on a two year loan.
Burnley sign Connor Roberts from Swansea for £2.5 million.
Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard having medical at Crystal Palace ahead of transfer.
Sheffield Wednesday have signed Saido Berahino (remember him?!) from Zulte Waregem.
Daniel James to Leeds has just been completed.

Finally, Cristiano Ronaldo's return to United was finalised this morning, On his Instagram Ronaldo posted a message which he finished with 'This is for you Sir Alex'. 😭😭😭

 

[Famine]

Sheffield Wednesday have signed Saido Berahino

Ronaldo posted a message which he finished with 'This is for you Sir Alex'.

He literally didn't sign for City only because Juventus wanted more of a transfer fee than City wanted to pay - he'd agreed terms! Who would that have been for!?

 

[dacc10]

For his career, since it was the only real option for him before Man U showed interest. Literaly the options were Man City, PSG if they sold Mbappe or the MLS or some middle eastern/chinese team who could afford him. It's not that hard to compreend.

Even Rio Ferdinand admitted that he'd be pissed if Ronaldo joined City, but he wouldn't consider it a betrayal since there was no other option at the time. If both Manchester teams had made an offer, and he had chosen City, then that would be betrayal.

Meanwhile, PSG refused the latest Real Madrid's offer for Mbappe. Even though this seems to have been put to bed, there were rumours that RM made a €200 million offer. Though it seems is nothing more than a rumour.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

It was £189 million for Mbappe as its been reported here.

Cant get my head around the fact that they turned down almost 200 million for him now and will let him leave on a free!

 

[NAXEHT]

It was £189 million for Mbappe as its been reported here.

Cant get my head around the fact that they turned down almost 200 million for him now and will let him leave on a free!

Perhaps hoping Real Madrid will have a relatively poor season and convince him to stay with PSG?

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Salomon Rondon close to joining Everton.
Real Madrid sign Eduardo Camavinga from Rennes for around £30 million.
Chelsea close to agreeing deal with Atletico Madrid for Saul Niguez which will be a loan with an option to buy.

 

[Famine]

If both Manchester teams had made an offer, and he had chosen City, then that would be betrayal.

He did. Ronaldo and City agreed terms; he had chosen City. Juventus halted the deal due to the transfer fee.

Then United came in, agreed the fee, and the deal was done.

With that in mind, who was the transfer to City, to which he had agreed, "for"?


Of course it's all just PR from a well-oiled publicity machine, but it's also naked hypocrisy - and hardly unusual either.

It's not that hard to compreend.

Or indeed comprehend. Neither was my previous reminder about you belittling others' intelligence. Show some of your own and comprehend both.

 

[OooAhh Cantona]

Ronaldo agreed terms with City because that was the only option at the time to get out of Juventus. He did it for himself. Does that answer the question?

 

[Famine]

He did it for himself. Does that answer the question?

But of course - as with the previous moves, and probably every other transfer ever. Doubtless most of our squad would play for the pigs with a 10% payrise.

Love a bit of PR spin

 

[dacc10]

He did. Ronaldo and City agreed terms; he had chosen City. Juventus halted the deal due to the transfer fee.

Then United came in, agreed the fee, and the deal was done.

With that in mind, who was the transfer to City, to which he had agreed, "for"?


Of course it's all just PR from a well-oiled publicity machine, but it's also naked hypocrisy - and hardly unusual either.

Or indeed comprehend. Neither was my previous reminder about you belittling others' intelligence. Show some of your own and comprehend both.

Where did you ever see that he chose Man City over United? If United weren't even in the race for him until the last second, he couldn't possibly have chosen a team that wasn't available. That's pretty much someone saying they chose a Renault Clio over a LaFerrari, when the LaFerrari wasn't even an option due to its price.

When there's only one option, there's no choice to be made.

Plus, reports say that Jorge Mendes went to Paris first.

It was £189 million for Mbappe as its been reported here.

Cant get my head around the fact that they turned down almost 200 million for him now and will let him leave on a free!

The whole thing makes no sense. But I guess that's Florentino for ya. If that transaction happened, RM would be the only losers, since they would waste 200 million euros on a player that in 12 months can be brought for free. Waiting one year will allow them to have Mbappe for free and those 200 million to be spent on replacements for the older players on that team.

PSG would win a ton of money, my bet is that they refused the offer, because they really believe that with this team they can win the UCL.

 

[Famine]

Where did you ever see that he chose Man City over United?

I didn't, nor did I say that he did. I said that he agreed terms with Manchester City - thereby choosing Manchester City - and the deal fell through because of City's unwillingness to pay Juventus's transfer fee (or Juve's obstinacy in demanding it; probably both). Then United made their offers:

Ronaldo and City agreed terms; he had chosen City. Juventus halted the deal due to the transfer fee.

Then United came in, agreed the fee, and the deal was done.

Both Manchester teams made an offer. United's just came after City's, in the wake of the City/Juventus teams not agreeing the fee after the player and his representatives had agreed terms.

Technically Ronaldo (or his representatives on his behalf) accepted both offers, sequentially.

 

[Dave A]

He literally didn't sign for City only because Juventus wanted more of a transfer fee than City wanted to pay - he'd agreed terms! Who would that have been for!?

That’s not quite true, personal terms were never formally agreed contrary to reports however his agent did feed them with hope that they were acceptable. In my opinion, his agent played City. United were in for Ronaldo the night news of City’s interest broke which has since been confirmed. At the time however the press just didn’t pick up on it until the day after.

United had passed on bringing Ronaldo back twice before, once under Jose and once earlier this window. Officially it’s because they didn’t expect him to really leave Juve. The reality is more likely that we didn’t want to spend more money until we thought he might end up at City.

Ronaldos interest in moving to City ended the same evening it started, as soon as United came in. It was a bold move, but I think if his agent didnt play City, United wouldn’t have moved for him. I think we’d have let him go back to Real or move to PSG. But not to City.

Of course, I could be wrong too, but City were out of the race almost as soon as they were in it.

 

[dacc10]

So, if he didn't have any other option apart from Man City, he didn't have a choice. It was either City or nothing.

It's actually quite curious how Man City lost interest at almost exactly the same time Man United showed theirs. We actually don't know how it went behind the scenes. The first hint on ManU's interest on Ronaldo came from a Solskjaer interview.

On other news, Griezmann is going back to Atletico Madrid, on loan until June 2022, with buy option for €40 million. Previously João Félix was on the table as part of the deal, but not anymore.

Surprised how United didn't even attempt to buy a new CDM today, specially after selling Daniel James.

PSG and Sporting agreed to a deal for Nuno Mendes. Apparently €7m loan fee, with buy optio of €40m.

 

[Famine]

That’s not quite true

To be entirely fair, almost none of anything to do with transfers is ever true - at least to the point of being available public knowledge - however the same sources reporting on the prelude to the Ronaldo/United deal were reporting just a day earlier that Ronaldo & City had agreed terms, so insofar as anything can be held as true, both things were.

The reality is more likely that we didn’t want to spend more money until we thought he might end up at City.

And that's almost certainly true

 

[sirjim73]

Daniel James to Leeds is pretty much a done deal, its a good move all round as James is going to a great club with a great manager and he'll fit right in there, its £25 million plus add-ons which is a great price for United considering we paid £15 million for him about two years ago, plus my other team Swansea had a sell-on fee in his United transfer so we get some money from the deal as well, win win! 👍

Ronaldo completed his United medical this morning and its just the visa to be sorted out, expected to be confirmed tomorrow.

Cavani has no issue giving Ronaldo the number 7 shirt, United have been in talks with the Premier League about changing the numbers. Cavani will likely get James's 21 shirt.

I'm going to be probably unpopular for this, however I hope the number change is refused. Not because its Ronaldo, but because it sets a precedent so they may as well just scrap the rule if they do.

If Ronaldo gets the number 7 shirt, then every club in the EPL is entirely entitled to request a number change for any future acquisitions in any future transfer window. And I would be very surprised if this doesnt happen every year from now on.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Window is now closed.

The only other things that happened in the last few hours is Chelsea signing Saul Niguez on loan from Atletico with an option too buy for 30 million Euros and Griezemann going back to Atletico from Barcelona.

The transfers I mentioned in earlier posts have gone through, Arsenal did sign Tomiyasu, Bellerin has gone to Real Betis on loan, Edouard has joined Palace from Celtic, Rondon has joined Everton, Lookman has joined Leicester on loan, there is probably a few others that I have forgotten.

Serge Aurier has had his contract mutually terminated at Spurs.

 

[dacc10]

I'm going to be probably unpopular for this, however I hope the number change is refused. Not because its Ronaldo, but because it sets a precedent so they may as well just scrap the rule if they do.

If Ronaldo gets the number 7 shirt, then every club in the EPL is entirely entitled to request a number change for any future acquisitions in any future transfer window. And I would be very surprised if this doesnt happen every year from now on.

I don't think it's that big of a deal. In La Liga teams have until the end of August to finalise the squad numbers, which actually makes sense since it coincides with the end of the transfer window.

 

[88GTA]

AC Milan have finally signed #30 Messi(as)!

 

[redhed17]

I don't think it's that big of a deal. In La Liga teams have until the end of August to finalise the squad numbers, which actually makes sense since it coincides with the end of the transfer window.

It would be a big deal if a rule that has been in place for many years is changed to cater for one player's ego/marketing.

One reason why the rule is in place is for anyone who had bought a teams new kit(s) with a player's name and number on the back would not find themselves with an incorrect name/number combination. Yes, you could have a player's name and number on your shirt that may leave after purchase, but that is not the same as having the wrong number. And Utd can make more money by giving him a different number this season, and the giving him #7 next season. 😉 Got to claw back some of the £500k 😳 a week they are supposed to be paying him.

If Messi can live with not being #10, then Ronaldo can live with not being #7. 😉

 

[sirjim73]

It would be a big deal if a rule that has been in place for many years is changed to cater for one player's ego/marketing.

One reason why the rule is in place is for anyone who had bought a teams new kit(s) with a player's name and number on the back would not find themselves with an incorrect name/number combination. Yes, you could have a player's name and number on your shirt that may leave after purchase, but that is not the same as having the wrong number. And Utd can make more money by giving him a different number this season, and the giving him #7 next season. 😉 Got to claw back some of the £500k 😳 a week they are supposed to be paying him.

If Messi can live with not being #10, then Ronaldo can live with not being #7. 😉

Not great if you're one of the 3 people who've bought a #7 Cavani shirt this year 😉

 

[dacc10]

It would be a big deal if a rule that has been in place for many years is changed to cater for one player's ego/marketing.

One reason why the rule is in place is for anyone who had bought a teams new kit(s) with a player's name and number on the back would not find themselves with an incorrect name/number combination. Yes, you could have a player's name and number on your shirt that may leave after purchase, but that is not the same as having the wrong number. And Utd can make more money by giving him a different number this season, and the giving him #7 next season. 😉 Got to claw back some of the £500k 😳 a week they are supposed to be paying him.

If Messi can live with not being #10, then Ronaldo can live with not being #7. 😉

It's a rule made to cater for bureaucracy and laziness. It made sense in the past, pre-digital era, where the commentators had to know the players and the respective numbers for the whole season, without access to the internet. It would be a problem in the past if players kept changing numbers between games. Now with access to the internet, that info spreads instantly. If you told me that that rule was there to reduce the production of shirts (as a way to not waste resources or something), that would make much more sense than anything else, though I'm prettu sure it's not the case.

Oh come on, no one is going to complain about having the "wrong player/number" combo on their shirt. It actually gives that shirt value. Most teams (if not all) have youth academies, where younger players wear the same number as senior players in the same kit in the same season. No one complains about that either.

It's not a big deal if doesn't get the number 7, neither it is if he does. Either way, people will complain, be it because EPL changed a rule, or he copied Messi by getting his original Sporting number (28) as Messi got his original Barcelona number. It's always a lose/lose.

 

[Famine]

And Utd can make more money by giving him a different number this season, and the giving him #7 next season. 😉 Got to claw back some of the £500k 😳 a week they are supposed to be paying him.

Clubs make very little from shirt sales. The deal is pretty much sponsorship: the shirt manufacturer pays the club up front and gets about 90% of the list price of each shirt. United sells quite a lot of shirts, but even at 2-3m a year (which is optimistic), they're only making about £10m from it, tops. If Ronaldo comes in and shifts a clear million #7s (or whatever) each year, it's worth maybe a few months of his salary, but it's unlikely.

It costs the shirt manufacturer about a fiver to make each shirt, and they sell for £60 or so. After the club's cut you're looking at £100m a year off the back of shirt sales, but you need to factor in that upfront payment. I recall that adidas pays United £75m a year for the shirt deal, depending on sales, so that's about £25m profit - which isn't inconsequential, but really it's about the ad value of having your brand on their shirt.

 

[OooAhh Cantona]

If Messi can live with not being #10, then Ronaldo can live with not being #7. 😉

But I can’t live without Ronaldo wearing the #7... and that is what matters.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Ronaldo has got the number 7 shirt, Cavani switches to 21. It was confirmed earlier 👍

Ronaldo will also join up with his new team mates early as well, he picked up a yellow card for Portugal last night for taking his shirt off during his celebration and is suspended for Portugal's next qualy during this break, Portugal also play a friendly against Qatar which he will know miss.

 

[OooAhh Cantona]

Ronaldo has got the number 7 shirt, Cavani switches to 21. It was confirmed earlier 👍

Meanwhile Phil Jones keeps the #4 shirt... to commemorate his fourth year on the physio table.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

I love the fact that Varane asked Jones in person for that shirt number and Jones said no!

Anyone who has bought a 'Cavani 7' shirt for this season directly from United can swap it for a new shirt.

 

[redhed17]

Clubs make very little from shirt sales. The deal is pretty much sponsorship: the shirt manufacturer pays the club up front and gets about 90% of the list price of each shirt. United sells quite a lot of shirts, but even at 2-3m a year (which is optimistic), they're only making about £10m from it, tops. If Ronaldo comes in and shifts a clear million #7s (or whatever) each year, it's worth maybe a few months of his salary, but it's unlikely.

It costs the shirt manufacturer about a fiver to make each shirt, and they sell for £60 or so. After the club's cut you're looking at £100m a year off the back of shirt sales, but you need to factor in that upfront payment. I recall that adidas pays United £75m a year for the shirt deal, depending on sales, so that's about £25m profit - which isn't inconsequential, but really it's about the ad value of having your brand on their shirt.

Utd are charging £15 extra for a shirt with Ronaldo's (or any other player's) name and number on, so if they sell 1m shirts with his name and number that is £15m, which is more than a few months of his reported £25m wages. He will obviously increase their annual shirt sales too, which doesn't hurt.

It will be interesting to see whether Liverpool's deal with Nike, in taking less money up front, but a larger cut of sales pays off. Liverpool have taken £30m a year, with 20% on Net sales. Of course, as with any 'kit' deal, it is also sales from all the branded clothing, not just shirt sales. The impact of Ronaldo will mainly affect the profit from the shirts which have his name, and number, on. Unless Utd can somehow get his CR7 logo on their training gear.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Cristiano Ronaldo: Manchester United forward to wear number seven

Cristiano Ronaldo will wear the number seven shirt for Manchester United, the club confirms.

www.bbc.co.uk

Looks like they have their wish, Ronaldo is #7 and Cavani moves to #21.

 

[dacc10]

And looks like they have sold, in just 12 hours, £32 million worth of Ronaldo shirts.

 

[Famine]

Utd are charging £15 extra for a shirt with Ronaldo's (or any other player's) name and number on, so if they sell 1m shirts with his name and number that is £15m

That still goes 90% (ish, nobody's sure, but 10% is about the industry level) to adidas, who supply the lettering. £1.5m isn't to be sniffed at, but it's not a lot within the broad terms of the transfer deal.

The real benefit is if they sell enough extra shirts to make adidas happy. That reported £75m/year apparently depends on total shirt sales, and they were down last year.

And looks like they have sold, in just 12 hours, £32 million worth of Ronaldo shirts.

So... six shirts then?*

At actual prices that's something like 350,000, I think. Not a bad effort considering they didn't quite sell 2m in FY2020 according to reports. About one in six shirts sold are Ronaldo #7...



*Note: This is a joke about how expensive football replica shirts are, not an insult aimed at Manchester United specifically, or Cristiano Ronaldo personally.