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Premier League Transfers: Maybe Not Just About Money Premier League Transfers: Maybe Not Just About Money
(about 11 hours later)
LONDON — The heat of an English summer is more than meteorological. Right now, with three weeks to go before the transfer window closes at the end of August, three of the biggest stars of the Premier League are doing all they can to change their colors. LONDON — The heat of an English summer is more than meteorological. Right now, with three weeks to go before the transfer period closes at the end of August, three of the biggest stars of the Premier League are doing all they can to change their colors.
Gareth Bale wants to leave Tottenham Hotspur, now that he knows that Real Madrid would double his pay, propelling him into a completely different stratosphere.Gareth Bale wants to leave Tottenham Hotspur, now that he knows that Real Madrid would double his pay, propelling him into a completely different stratosphere.
Luis Suárez is using the media to try to force Liverpool to sell him, to Arsenal or any other club that might offer him Champions League soccer. Luis Suárez is using the news media to try to force Liverpool to sell him, to Arsenal or any other club that might offer him Champions League soccer.
And Wayne Rooney is prepared to make himself as disruptive as he can to force Manchester United to sell him to Chelsea.And Wayne Rooney is prepared to make himself as disruptive as he can to force Manchester United to sell him to Chelsea.
All three are claiming that injuries prevent them from preparing for the new season under their current contracts. Those might be injuries of convenience while the haggling for their services goes on behind closed doors.All three are claiming that injuries prevent them from preparing for the new season under their current contracts. Those might be injuries of convenience while the haggling for their services goes on behind closed doors.
The new season kicks off in England on Aug. 17. Two of these men, Bale and Suárez, were undoubtedly the outstanding talents of last season. The third, Rooney, was dropped from time to time because his form wavered, yet with his amalgam of bull-like strength and natural instinct for when to attack and when to defend, he still was a pivotal man in Manchester United’s victorious season atop the Premier League. The new season begins in England on Aug. 17. Two of these men, Bale and Suárez, were undoubtedly the outstanding talents of last season. The third, Rooney, was dropped from time to time because his form wavered, yet with his amalgam of bull-like strength and natural instinct for when to attack and when to defend, he still was a pivotal man in Manchester United’s victorious season atop the Premier League.
So why are these men such malcontents? Why must they rock the boats of the teams that seemed to have been built to a large extent around them? Maybe it is the rare heat in England this summer. More likely, it involves honest cravings by Bale and Suárez to take part in the Champions League — their current teams failed to qualify for the tournament this season.So why are these men such malcontents? Why must they rock the boats of the teams that seemed to have been built to a large extent around them? Maybe it is the rare heat in England this summer. More likely, it involves honest cravings by Bale and Suárez to take part in the Champions League — their current teams failed to qualify for the tournament this season.
Certainly, money is also an enticement, and not just for the players. The summers seethe in global soccer, with agents trying to make a buck (or a million) by moving their clients around. Certainly, money is also an enticement, and not only for the players. The summers seethe in global soccer, with agents trying to make a buck (or a million) by moving their clients around.
It is, they say, a young man’s game. The rewards may not be in Alex Rodriguez’s class — $28 million this season for trying to hit a baseball out of the park — but Gareth Bale knows that if he can swing his deal to the Bernabéu stadium in Madrid, he can bank on Real’s paying his taxes for him, leaving him with about $12 million a year clear to take care of his girlfriend and their baby daughter. It is, they say, a young man’s game. The rewards may not be in Alex Rodriguez’s class — $28 million this season for trying to hit a baseball out of the park — but Bale knows that if he can swing his deal to Bernabéu stadium in Madrid, he can bank on Real’s paying his taxes for him, leaving him with about $12 million a year clear to take care of his girlfriend and their baby daughter.
Do not get this wrong. Bale is as genuine a lover of his game as there is in sports. Zinédine Zidane, the former Galáctico who is advising Madrid’s president, Florentino Pérez on this deal, is a confirmed admirer of the speed, muscular power and unstinting team-first play that makes the Wales winger such a coveted player. Do not get this wrong. Bale is as genuine a lover of his game as there is in sports. Zinédine Zidane, the former Galáctico who is advising Madrid’s president, Florentino Pérez on this deal, is a confirmed admirer of the speed, muscular power and unstinting team-first play that makes the wingfrom Wales such a coveted player.
Imagine Real, with Cristiano Ronaldo on one wing and Bale on the other. And imagine the two of them alternating positions right, left and center to bamboozle defenses.Imagine Real, with Cristiano Ronaldo on one wing and Bale on the other. And imagine the two of them alternating positions right, left and center to bamboozle defenses.
Ronaldo cost Madrid a record £80 million, or $123 million, to buy, and he has scored at more than a goal-a-game average ever since. Bale’s fee would top that, and despite denials, it is conceivably being negotiated in the United States, where Madrid is on tour and Tottenham’s chairman, Daniel Levy, has a holiday home.Ronaldo cost Madrid a record £80 million, or $123 million, to buy, and he has scored at more than a goal-a-game average ever since. Bale’s fee would top that, and despite denials, it is conceivably being negotiated in the United States, where Madrid is on tour and Tottenham’s chairman, Daniel Levy, has a holiday home.
The denials are all part of the way that Spurs, in particular, do business. The closer a deal gets to deadline, the more that Levy and his chief shareholder, Joe Lewis, reckon they can get out of the buyer.The denials are all part of the way that Spurs, in particular, do business. The closer a deal gets to deadline, the more that Levy and his chief shareholder, Joe Lewis, reckon they can get out of the buyer.
Tottenham, meantime, has spent nearly $80 million to buy a striker, Roberto Soldado, from Valencia in La Liga and Paulinho, a midfielder, from Corinthians in Brazil. Tottenham, meantime, has spent nearly $80 million to buy a striker, Roberto Soldado, from Valencia in Spain's La Liga and Paulinho, a midfielder, from Corinthians in Brazil.
The Spurs rarely buy without selling, although this is a summer in which all 20 teams in the Premier League are awash in cash. Not only has NBC signed up with English soccer, but the clubs are sharing a new $8.5 billion, three-year deal for the worldwide TV rights to their games. Spurs rarely buy without selling, although this is a summer in which all 20 teams in the Premier League are awash in cash. Not only has NBC signed up with English soccer, but the clubs are sharing a new three-year, $8.5 billion deal for the worldwide TV rights to their games.
Those are the high stakes that the three players in question cannot fail to appreciate, and it makes this a now-or-never opportunity in their careers.Those are the high stakes that the three players in question cannot fail to appreciate, and it makes this a now-or-never opportunity in their careers.
The daily bulletins out of the clubs that currently own them are just window dressing. Manchester United has tried twice, and will doubtless bid a third time, to purchase Cesc Fàbregas, in part to put a marquee name in its midfield to soften the blow of letting Rooney go after nine seasons with the club.The daily bulletins out of the clubs that currently own them are just window dressing. Manchester United has tried twice, and will doubtless bid a third time, to purchase Cesc Fàbregas, in part to put a marquee name in its midfield to soften the blow of letting Rooney go after nine seasons with the club.
They are not similar players; Rooney’s explosive qualities, when he is hitting on all cylinders, are close to irreplaceable. But when he broods, as he appears to have done in the past season under the now-retired manager Alex Ferguson, it might be better to take the money and say goodbye.They are not similar players; Rooney’s explosive qualities, when he is hitting on all cylinders, are close to irreplaceable. But when he broods, as he appears to have done in the past season under the now-retired manager Alex Ferguson, it might be better to take the money and say goodbye.
Another element to Chelsea’s pursuit of Rooney is the methods used by José Mourinho. Returning to the club that once fired him, Mourinho knows that United is one of his main rivals — and if he cannot persuade Manchester to sell its bull, then he can at least unsettle the harmony around Old Trafford by maintaining a summer-long pursuit of a star player. Another element to Chelsea’s pursuit of Rooney is the methods used by José Mourinho. Returning to the club that once fired him, Mourinho knows that United is one of his main rivals — and if he cannot persuade United to sell its bull, then he can at least unsettle the harmony around Old Trafford by maintaining a summer-long pursuit of a star player.
As Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, put it Wednesday: He would take Rooney any time, and if Rooney goes, United is weaker, but if he stays, Chelsea is weaker.As Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, put it Wednesday: He would take Rooney any time, and if Rooney goes, United is weaker, but if he stays, Chelsea is weaker.
Wenger, though, is trying to pull off a deal of his own. He bid £40,000,001 of Arsenal’s money to try to activate a clause in Suárez’s contract with Liverpool. There are different interpretations of that clause: The Uruguayan claims that it means he can go if a team bids more than £40 million, but Liverpool’s owners insisted he was not for sale.Wenger, though, is trying to pull off a deal of his own. He bid £40,000,001 of Arsenal’s money to try to activate a clause in Suárez’s contract with Liverpool. There are different interpretations of that clause: The Uruguayan claims that it means he can go if a team bids more than £40 million, but Liverpool’s owners insisted he was not for sale.
Suárez brought in his lawyer, and on Wednesday Liverpool isolated him and ordered him to train alone, away from the rest of the players.Suárez brought in his lawyer, and on Wednesday Liverpool isolated him and ordered him to train alone, away from the rest of the players.
Until this week, Suárez regularly criticized the media in England for what he said was unfair coverage. Then he said his family was picked on in Britain. Now he says he will happily stay in England, but at 26, he wants and needs to play in the Champions League. Arsenal is in it, while Liverpool, despite Suárez’s sometimes extraordinary skills and sometimes unpardonable behavior, is nowhere close to qualifying for top-level European competition. Until this week, Suárez regularly criticized the news media in England for what he said was unfair coverage. Then he said his family was picked on in Britain. Now he says he will happily stay in England, but at 26, he wants and needs to play in the Champions League. Arsenal is in it, while Liverpool, despite Suárez’s sometimes extraordinary skills and sometimes unpardonable behavior, is nowhere close to qualifying for top-level European competition.
So, it comes down to personal ambition in a team sport. Bale and Suárez need a move to play in the world’s top competition. Rooney thinks he needs a change. The transfer clock is winding down, but no is never a no in soccer until the window finally shuts on Sept. 2. So, it comes down to personal ambition in a team sport. Bale and Suárez need a move to play in the world’s top competition. Rooney thinks he needs a change. The transfer clock is winding down, but no is never a no in soccer until Sept. 2.