I’m writing this with over four hours before the transfer window “slams shut” so what follows could be out of date very soon. Still, it has to be said: Manchester City, with more money than Allah, have behaved disgracefully over their pursuit of Rihad Mahrez.
Guardiola has made four bids for the player today, all well in excess of £50 million. All have been rejected by Leicester City. By a complete coincidence, just yesterday the player put in a transfer request. Amazing how these things just seem to happen. No way on earth had the player (and/or his agent) been alerted to City’s interest, who would not have said, “Don’t worry about the money you will lose by putting in a transfer request: we’ll take care of that.” No. These things don’t happen, Football is open, transparent and inherently honest. (By the way, you can buy a second hand car from me!)
No one doubts that Pep is a truly great coach. Mind you, it does help that on one day he can spend £57 million on a centre half and the next pay even more than that for a winger who he needs as a quick fix for Sane who is out injured for six weeks. Just imagine having the money for a quick fix like that. Laughed? I nearly started. Actually I didn’t nearly start at all. It’s a disgrace.
These are footballers who will earn £300,000 a week, some more than that. I am not sure how the man and woman on the terraces is supposed to relate to that. Of course, they can’t. Even modestly talented players earn a million quid every ten weeks and bang average ones become millionaires three or four times over every year. Meanwhile, Sky thinks it’s all a big laugh.
Jim White, the ludicrously camp host of Sky’s OTT coverage, seems to be permanently at the point of orgasm. I shall be seriously worried for his health, not to mention the smart suits of those around him, if a sensational transaction occurs and the not so great man shoots his deadline load. Not an attractive prospect, is it?
I am not terribly bothered about the effect on Leicester because like so many clubs they have overseas owners and exist as a result of Sky/BT money. They are not some quaint homespun football club, like AFC Wimbledon. They can, and do, plunder talent from smaller clubs. It’s just they are less big than Manchester City, who can unsettle the likes of Mahrez and then walk away, leaving that big fart in the lift for everyone else to endure.
Mahrez has been axed from the Leicester squad tonight. Either his head has been turned or there might yet be a deal later on. To me, he’s just another greedy bastard in a world of greedy bastards, or what we laughably refer to as the People’s Game. Football won’t die because of this but it’s beating heart will. And in the end, supporters usually end up with the club and the league that they deserve.
