Reply to thread

Sometimes, when looked at from an investment view, some of these deals actually make sense. Some just never will.

The Haaland deal actually does make financial sense from the clubs view. Pay him £25mill per year over the next 10 years (1 yr existing, 9 extension) equals £250 million in total. (I know, I'm a maths genius with that one).

But to go out in the world and get one of the top 5 strikers in world football to replace him is going to cost around £200 million just for the transfer fee. Add in wages and suddenly £250M looks sensible. And the striker in question is not going to be 23 years old. And you're going to go back to the market in 5 years time.

But the whole Saudi sports-washing is just money because they have unlimited funds for vanity projects like LIV golf, boxing title fights, UFC, Football Pro League etc.

Ronaldo at 39 aint the player  he was 10 years ago. Wouldn't get a game at a top club in Europe any more. What they are paying for is a name and the associated publicity that could convince others to sign.

They've managed to sign some names but nowhere near enough to be destination clubs like say Spain or England. I can see any top player at the end of his career being tempted by the silly money, but I just can't see anyone at the peak of their career going to train and play in Saudi.

The Saudis are going to have to sell a lot of Ronaldo replica kit to recoup their money.