Are Manchester City getting it wrong?

Frank Praverman

£91million on one player. Plus wages of £13.6m a year after tax.

That's what Manchester City have entered as an initial bid to buy Kaka from AC Milan. Marvellous or madness?

There is no doubt that Kaka is a wonderful player and would be a welcome addition to any team. But is anyone worth that amount?

When Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea he snapped up some of the world's best talent, including Michael Essien and Didier Drogba for a combined total of £48.4m, and Jose Mourinho, the manager delivered two Premier League titles, but now the cracks are beginning to appear at Stamford Bridge. The kind of money that was spent by the west London club should have secured a trophy-laden future for years to come.

Does the same fate await City? They have already bought Robinho, Jo and Shaun Wright-Phillips for £60m yet they languish in 15th place in the Premier League. Many onlookers argue that £91m could buy four top quality stars that would be of more overall value to the squad. Sheikh Mansour, their owner from Abu Dhabi, may be a billionaire but surely there is not a bottomless pit of money.

And how will the rest of the dressing room feel at Eastlands when they know that one player is earning at least twice as much as the rest of them? Will this move not divide the players even more?

Is City's transfer policy a recipe for disaster? Leave your comments below.

Comments

[Durk]

Of course no player is worth that much money. But the ploy is not only that it is to get the very top players no matter what the cost, it is to eventually to arrive at the most powerful club in the world for powers sake. It is about all the young stars in the foreseeable future wanting to play with the best. That best will be Manchester City under petro dollar control.

It is utterly rediculous going to city will ruin kaka's career as they are a bad team no money in the world can change this!!!!! come to united instead!!!!

[Ben]

How are city going to accomadate all the players there looking for?
play a new formation of 2-3-5

richards-dunne

s.w.p kompany petrov

ireland kaka robinho

bellamy santa cruz

any half decent team counters them and tears them to bits at the back they should look for a more balanced team and thinkn about 1 more world class defender and holding midfielder

[Ash]

£91 million. You could buy Sicily for that. Actually you could probably buy Italy for that.

[Harry - Manchester]

The figures being talked about are obscene, truly obscene. Kaka is a wonderful player with fantastic feet, wonderful vision, and fabulous technique, but the ridiculous amount if money that Man City are talking about threatens to unsettle and de-stabalise the entire game. Kaka is not worth 5 Ronaldo's, Ballacks or Fabregas'. When Chelsea first came along they were buying players from Marseilles (Drogba), Lyon (Essien), Blackburn (Duff), PSV (Robben) West Ham (Cole) and Porto (Carvalho). Clubs who were below them anyway in some respects. City, on the other hand, are trying to buy the very best players from the biggest clubs in the world. For that, the prices double or even treble. Whether it be Messi from Barcelona, Robinho from Madrid or Kaka from Milan. I just hope that this doesn't drive prices up again as Chelsea did 4 years ago.

[Chris]

As a City Season ticket Holder is see a number of comments that can be put down to one thing & one thing alone ..JEALOUSY !!!

[Sudhanshu Roy]

What a rubbish piece of writing? Kaka is one of the best and he costs that much. It signals Man City's ambition to be the best. At least it shows to the rest of the premier league that they want to be the best.

[gaz lowe]

its a shame we cant buy mourinho, or maybe we can with the right money.Idont like hughes full steam ahead approach, we need an experienced manager to be able to handle the richest club in the world and fully optimise this oppourtunity. agent hughs out!!!

[TheBossman]

I thought I'd seen it all - ups and downs, heroic failures, unlikely victories, but this is just wonderfully Manchester City.
We've been poor for ages and now we are being Loadsamoney - hilarious.
On a serious note the transfers (or not) are a becoming something of a circus and distraction from the real game - we've got to beat Wigan on Saturday.

[Daniel Smith]

Far better to spend that sum of money on developing their youth academy. City used to have one of the best. £91 million is too much. It only takes one clogger on a muddy pitch to mistime his tackle and City have got the world's most expensive Michael Owen!

[piggysbeeftrousers]

i'm not sure they could buy '4 top quality stars' for £91m, as the second the clubs hear it's Citeh on the phone, the price will double, at least. but then, if they've got the cash, i suppose at least it's getting distributed around a bit.

i'm not sure kaka is going to solve their problems though... i would have thought an attacking midfielder is pretty much bottom of the list of requirements.

[mat]

kaka has certainly gone up in my estimations.
Man city could go the same way as leeds when the owners get bored and to be honest I hope they do.
Paying £12m for Wayne Bridge on £90000 a week is laughable but what do you expect?
The sooner people like sheikh Mansour and Abramovich go the better.

[peter yiannis]

I,ve been a football lover all my life but what is happening now and in the past few years in the football world is more than indecent, obscene,unethical,immoral and crazy and somebody should put a stop to it.
It,s time the world governing body acted to put a stop to a bunch of disturbed mega-rich egomaniacs ruining the game forever.
Moreover, no footballer is worth that amount of money whichever way one looks at it, whether they are called Kaka , Ronaldo , Messi, Beckham, Robinho,Lampard etc ,especially this day and age, when ordinary people are loosing their jobs and homes.
Most of them are over-hyped , over marketed imbiciles , who shouldn,t be earning 1/10th of what they are.
They are bad role models for kids, whose parents are idiotic enough buying in to this unjustifiable mass hysteria of the modern footballer, mostly perpetrated by the mass media.
Fans should get real, start boycoting games and take no part in all this madness.
A write off ferrari is someones lost home !

[Darren]

If City follow through with deals like this then they're going to be not only the next Leeds, but on a much grander scale! That sort of money cannot be recouped even if they win everything under the sun.

At the same time, why would anyone at a big club want to go to City unless they were after money? No CL next season, probably won't even be in the UEFA Cup either, so no European football. All it will show is what footballers are after money and which ones are driven by ambition. Personally, i wouldn't blame Kaka if he accepted £500k a week to play at City, that's about the bare minimum i'd want to play at their council owned stadium!

[Andy]

Ha what a surprise kaka says no, this is just a pr stunt from city to show realistic target they should join a 'big thinking club' I just have this feeling they will get relegated this year its a totally city thing to do its writen in the stars

[Sir Alex]

What we are sing here is exactly what i thought would happen! No self respecting world class player is going to want to play for a below par team with a very average manager! You'll get the odd money crazed good player, but not the world class players they keep saying that they "will" sign. How many players have they made stupid bids for only to be told no! it will continue like this for a long time, city chasing player until they finally get some who are willing to forgo a decent playing career for loads of cash!

[Julian Glantz]

Becoming a top club is about more than instant riches. The notion is deeply flawed - Kaka's next birthday is his 28th. He has no sell-on value. Real Madrid and Chelsea are both beginning to show what this sort of 'team building' can lead to, not least because too many big egos spoils hopes of harmony.

If City's new owners are serious and in this long-term, then the foundations need to be right. Pointless having a luxury penthouse suite if the basement is about to crumble under the weight.

[Dominic]

Excuse me with my glass of cold water but...

The variety of figures mentioned have no confirmed basis and have been dreamed up in someone's fevered imagination. Let's wait and find out what is really going on before we criticize shall we?

[Stephen]

Loadsamoney stupid is right. This is the result of too much money, no overall game plan and Mark Hughes being forced to show action which is misunderstood by the new owners as "progress".

I'm sorry City but there is no way any serious footballer will join you. The reason is simply that you are now a toy, as Chelsea is, and when the boy is bored of you, the tap will be turned off.

This needs a 10 year business plan starting from the youth team up. This is barely a 10 week plan. And with Mark Hughes in charge I seriously doubt City could even buy the title.

[richard dow]

Well Well Well
A modern footballer with a bit of loyalty, either that or Robinho told him not to come.

It'll be amazing seeing all those multi-millionaires playing in the Championship.

What they need is a big centre half, holding midfielder and a goal scorer. How many midfield kingpins can one team have?

Is Mr.Hughes buying these or just accepting them? :(

[Andrew Curry]

Spend the money on Senna. He's more what City are after and will provide instant impact and balance to the team. Dietmar Hamaan can't go on forever!
Chelsea got it more or less right with buys in every position. City need to consolidate their attack and get some defence. Hughsey will do a job, whether it's the right one it remains to be seen.
Very much doubt that Kaka will leave a giant of the football world to join a team languishing in the relegation zone.
best of luck to city

[Mr Bluesky]

The difference between Chesea and City is that City are far far richer. Roman is tightening his belt and that has reflected in his football club. City really do have a bottomless pit (that's the difference). If City want to pay £100M they will and probably a few more times over to bring the likes of Messi & Co. City's owners promised world domination of club football... Kaka is a very important link in their project.

[smick]

I personally cannot see Kaka leaving Milan for City bearing in mind the best chance they have of reaching even the Champions League is 2010.

I'm a Milan fan. The obscene amount of money being offered is something I would consider. With it Milan could buy a whole new backline, something they desperately need.

The future of Milan lies with players like Gourcuff and Pato. Sure Kaka would be my next choice as a Milan captain when Maldini, Ambrosini AND Gattuso retired. But wuld he stay around that long.

Someimes a player needs a new challenge. I doubt Kaka would fit the premier league but if he moves then it's his choice. He's served Milan well. ForzA Milan

[Dale]

why do united fans supposedly form manchester take the mik out of the mancuinian accent. (citeh)?

[kenney henderson]

come on man city have to remember Chelsea never brought the league the squad was being built from when ranieri first started but extra cash helped but city are acting stupid no one is worth that much and so far there league position has proved it you cant buy success and there is no such thing as a over night celebrity

[James]

How on earth can Man City recoup the costs, they certainly haven't got the fan base and match day attendance couldn't cover all the players wages especially Kaka's.

The game is becoming a joke the economic crunch will mean people will saving particularly as jobs in the north west disappear.

[steven]

I don't understand why Man City don't buy Jonathan Woodgate, he's the best defender outside of the top 3, and spurs could easily be made to sell. They don't need Kaka as much as great defenders.

[Kenny Jones]

100 million pounds. I remeber Denis Law going for 112,000 pounds. Most City supporters earn about 20,000 pounds a year and struggle to put food on the table for their kids. They steal from each other to survive. Are these "Kakas" our heroes? Do we need this? Doea it take this to make Mancunians proud? Makes wy heart break.

[Ng C H]

The way things are going at the moment shows that Highes is desperate from being sacked. Paying £91million on one player, plus wages of £13.6m a year after tax, is wasteful, and utter madness. Better get a good manager instead! The present squad is good enough, except they are not properly guided.

[James]

I'm dismayed at this move, we're quickly becoming a laughing stock. Kaka will move for the money, just as sure as eggs are eggs that this owner will leave us and move on. We can't generate the appeal of Man u, or their revenue, that takes decades. Kaka will come, play well for a while, go missing then leave, just like the rest of the crowd we,ve broght into eastlands. This is no quick fix. Also, this mansour does his self no favours in the arab world and seems almost oblivious to the problems in Gaza and how the starving palenstinians must feel reading this rubbish. Who'd invest in any fund these people run when there's simply no business case for this move. We need 5 hardworking talented premier league players to get us out of this mess, Not Kaka who will find it a lot more difficult in the premier league than Serie A.

[Chris]

I dont think u can string together a team of fantasy footballers and expect domination. Sure Real Madrid did it with zidane, roberto carlos, beckham and ronaldo but after a while they failed. Chelsea also did it for two years b4 their cracks started to appear. Teams perform well when u build n develop them into a system- like Man U have done with giggs, scholes and neville integrating them with youngsters. only then can they start reaching domination. Man C- money wont solve ur problems

[Paul]

Stupid money! I hope Kaka has some self respect and says no to the move.
People keep comparing City to Chelsea but peopel seem to forget that Chelsea where a good side before the investment of Roman. They finished fourth the season before he arrived. They already had players like terry and lampard.
City on the other hand are a mess and seemingly getting worse.

If the guy has 91m to spend on Kaka and has promised world domination why is he only buying Kaka.
Throw all the money he plans to spend into January transfer window. Go get Messi, Torres, Ronaldo et al.Stop half assing it.

[Noel]

Being an eternal AC Milan supporter it has been a day of mixed emotions. If this obscene deal were to go thru my heart goes out to the City supporters as this will start the 'faceless' club syndrome. Especially to the true supporters who have been there from day 1 !Not only is this bad for football ,it leaves a sad precedent for young aspiring footballers that might not have the Kaka, Ronaldo, Messi talent but definitely the heart, maybe even more!. In saying so Milan does need the money as do all clubs and should this madness needed to be stopped , there is no worthy candidate than Kaka himself ! Stand Up , we the world are waiting , show us something !!!

[dIPLOMAT]

Chris stop being silly please! how much do u get paid? It's not a matter going for Kaka, it a matter of paying a ludacris amount of money for??? He is a good player yes but £100mil?? Thats just stupid! I know for one i work harder than these footballers and i dont get paid a year what they get paid a week?? How? And as for you saying jealousy Kaka is not going to save Man c the drop, he's just going to make the fall harder. What happened to Spurs unbalanced team? No wins in 11!

What is the point of really spending this kind of money is going to be embarassin when you've got to sell him back to AC next year when you're in the championship. Look at chealski and Sheva! Poor Mark hughes you could tell Kaka is not his signing. Why not go for messi instead??

[Richard]

it's not kaka's fault that he's been offered so much money. however, none the less it borders immoral.

anyone who follows football will know the sums being mentioned will be bound to cause resinment within the dressing room. just cast your mind back to the c.ronaldo senario only a few months agao. certain players (of the same calibre) came out and openly said they didn't want him there, wages being a major factor.

i just feel that if this move really does go through, then it's the ultimate proof that football has lost it's way and moved well away from the working class, the game's spiritual origins.

[Rob]

Utter lunacy, and I hope that Kaka knows well enough to steer clear.

If there's one thing City do not need right now, it's an attacking midfielder. No doubting Kaka's quality (although, for £100m or thereabouts, you might expect someone a couple of years younger), but football is a team game. Having a few big names doesn't get you anywhere (how many of the current Man U side were well established in the game before moving to Old Trafford - Ferdinand, van der Sar, Rooney perhaps, but the side has been built on talented youngsters growing into a team together).

City are in dire need of a defensive midfielder, and at least one centre half - but levering ever more famous forwards into the side can only make things worse. After all, don't imagine that Kaka would be the last - before you know it, you'll be going forward like Real in the 50s, and defending like Swindon Town in 93/94. In other words, maybe bringing in Kaka will convert 2-0 defeats into 4-3 defeats, but if you don't build a proper team, there'll only be defeats.

[Jon]

Once again football shoots itself in the foot. The insanity of the figures involved in the Kaka transfer at time of recession is just unpleasant. Great football clubs are built over years Leeds 60's 70's, Liverpool 70's 80's, Man Utd 90's 0's. They were not bought but were built over time and achieved long term success. Buying teams on mass only achieves short term success Chelsea and the Galaticos era at Madrid are examples. Man City will buy big achieve little or nothing the Arabs will leave. The club will slide or worst still go into administration. In todays climate they will not be the first probably just one in a long line of great pretenders who go to the wall. Advertising revenue, ticket and shop sales, corperate sponsorship and TV revenue will all be reduced in the current downturn. Unless football sorts its financial act out clubs will inevitable fail.

[Alex]

if kaka came, others will follow..

[Jonathan Bowden]

Like many others this article just cries out nonsense and pure jealousy,So we go in for Kaka and you pose the question,Is the transfer policy a recipe for disaster,But what you and every one else means is you hope it ends in disaster,Also how do you know Hughes is not going to go and buy full backs and centre backs after Kaka,So again every one saying were buying the wrong players,Blimey at least wait until the end of the window.Finally the dressing room will be buzzing if Kaka arrives,What,You think players like Garrido and gelson will demand equal money,Of course not,All nonsense.

[Sergio]

Peaks and troughs in any business (for that is what football now is) always find the median eventually.

Other markets that are currently suffering may, perhaps, sufficiently bouy this madness in the footballing world by diversity or vice versa.

Half a million per week afforded to one player? Shocking in the extreme. Surely unsustainable by the sport alone.

[david]

Mmm.In the scheme of "things" who cares?I love to watch football,prefer other sports,but accept it is the "leading " game..and has many supperters.But I cannot see why any footballer is worth more than ..say..£60,000 per YEAR..they enjoy playing,have a great life..till mid 30s,and injuries aside [insurance?]Kaka is the word that sums it up.

[Hussain]

I really hope Kaka does not move to city. But i dont understand why Silvio Berlusconi is saying that milan 'will sell' to a player like Kaka. Imagine how he must feel knowing his club wants to sell. 1 thing is for sure, if Milan do sell they will never find anyone to replace Kaka

[Doug]

There's a very good chance that City's desire to buy in allegedly the best players will backfire on them, after all individual talent doesn't guarantee a team is going to p;ay as a team.

And I wonder if Hughes really has the ability to manage like a Ferguson when he has egos like Kaka and Robinho to look after.

As for buying Bellamy - oh dear!