Editor
The last 24 hours were a fitting end to a summer of transfer sagas and soap operas with not only players being bought at extortionate fees but also a football club. Fans around the world were left stunned as Manchester City were bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) fronted by the Arabian 'Donald Trump,' Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim.
Hey Big Spender
Before the debate over whether money buys you success begins, there is no doubt that the acquisition of Manchester City by ADUG is a statement of fierce intent to challenge for major domestic honours, particularly after Real Madrid received a phone call followed by a fax with a £32.5 million offer for Robinho. They must have been thinking, who in the blue hell are you?
As ADUG boasted yesterday they have extremely deep pockets, but we need to put these trenches of cash in context with the previous omnipotent overlord of the Premiership, Roman Ambramovich. Sulaiman Al-Fahim makes Roman Ambramovich look like he shops at Woolworths. ABDUG are worth a reported £26 billion, making them considerably wealthier that the Russian mogul. They are only one day into the job and they have made Robinho the highest paid player in the Premiership earning a reported £7 million a year after tax.
But will Manchester City challenge the big four?
Does money buy instant success? It isn't proven but it helps. Football has moved in a new direction, it is one of a few industries that sets itself apart from every day economics. Even though the country is riddled with recession and debt, football clubs go on spending and receiving lucrative investment. It is a simple fact whether fans like it or not that if you have the capital to attract the best players in the world with inter galactic wages then you are in with a chance of making a difference. The money involved in football now puts the sport on a different level.
Patience is key
However, City fans cannot expect Champions League football straight away, a sense of realism is needed. One of my Room 101 niggles is as soon as a football club receives investment or makes a big signing, the level of expectancy is not just raised but fans suddenly think they can swan around like royalty for the rest of season armed with an unachievable set of demands. I think it's for this very reason that I respect and admire the job the board and Roy Keane are doing at Sunderland.
They have invested a lot of money into the club but they haven't over spent, they are building a football club in a sustainable manner with a long term plan. The board and manager understand that success has to develop over time, it rarely happens instantly.
How will this effect football?
Well the signs are not good. Already the ADUG have signalled their intent to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, Cesc Fabregas and Fernando Torres. The group have declared that they are used to getting what they want. The Doctor even described himself as a bulldozer, he simply bulldozers through people to get what he wants.
I don't think he realises the implications even if he bought Ronaldo from Manchester United for £200 million. You are giving your biggest enemy a huge arsenal to use against you. For Manchester City fans sake I hope he also realises one player does not win silverware, football is still a team sport. Thank God.
People have spent years defending football, saying it isn't just about money, and I was one of these deluded fools.
But maybe we were all wrong, and football was always heading into a soul-less black hole full of dollar bills. I just hope and pray that our beautiful game has not just stepped over the line of no return and ultimately self destruction.
Until next time...