Alessia Russo | leaves United for Arsenal

RORY65 said:
She was offered a new contract last year, obviously we don't know the terms of the offer, but she turned it down. I imagine if we make the Champions League then maybe that might give her more reason to stay but right now you would think it doesn't look good with regards to her staying past this season.
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If the rumours/leaks were accurate we were "cautious" with her offer, worried about injuries and questioning her potential. If the rumours were accurate she wouldn't have been one of our best paid players.

Obviously her role for England in the summer was a massive gamechanger (so was she) and it's a much tougher negotiation now.

It's reckoned we rejected a big bid for One Batlle from Chelsea on the summer - but we stand to lose her as well this year if we don't give her CL football and a great salary. Even then, we might lose her if the right Spanish club came hunting.

It's a turning point in the women's game really and we really weren't ready for it, not in funding terms, nor in terms of management. We're talking not just about wages, we're talking transfer fees and longer contracts. We're trying to put the right management in place but whether we've put the money there as well is a wait and see.
 
Dan_F said:
Yeah. I’m pretty sure we could have sued him for breach of contract in that interview, so I doubt he got anything out of us.

Regardless, with the top earners in the WSL at about £250-300k, it really should be pocket change, as I don’t see her getting that wage anywhere else.
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Maybe, I reckon he went with something though, not his full wack but something

As for the women's team, they probably have a set budget to work with, guess we'll see
 
Dan_F said:
Yeah. I’m pretty sure we could have sued him for breach of contract in that interview, so I doubt he got anything out of us.

Regardless, with the top earners in the WSL at about £250-300k, it really should be pocket change, as I don’t see her getting that wage anywhere else.
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The last accounts for the women's team stated that there were 31 employees, made up of the players and coaches, with the total payroll costs amounting to £1.8m (just under £60k a year per person) meaning that the average player/coach for the women's team earns less in a year than Ronaldo would have in a day. The finances won't be the issue in offering her a new deal if the club wants to properly back the team but the question is do they? I would imagine she wants to be better paid and to start winning things and maybe Arsenal think they have a good chance as it would be closer to her family too.
 
RORY65 said:
The last accounts for the women's team stated that there were 31 employees, made up of the players and coaches, with the total payroll costs amounting to £1.8m (just under £60k a year per person) meaning that the average player/coach for the women's team earns less in a year than Ronaldo would have in a day. The finances won't be the issue in offering her a new deal if the club wants to properly back the team but the question is do they? I would imagine she wants to be better paid and to start winning things and maybe Arsenal think they have a good chance as it would be closer to her family too.
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She said on the United podcast that she was a massive United fan as a kid. I can’t fathom that you’d choose Arsenal over United just to be closer to your family - it’s not exactly a big distance. It must be money.

Winning things makes sense too. Maybe we could set a release clause if we don’t get Champions League football? I have a feeling that she’ll be off regardless if the contract isn’t sorted soon. How many players run their contract down and end up staying.
 
Just pay her what she wants ffs! If they can go all out for Sanchez etc., I'm sure a few extra quid won't hurt. If she goes to Arsenal, it's game over. I'd take Blakstenius off them though.
 
Dan_F said:
She said on the United podcast that she was a massive United fan as a kid. I can’t fathom that you’d choose Arsenal over United just to be closer to your family - it’s not exactly a big distance. It must be money.

Winning things makes sense too. Maybe we could set a release clause if we don’t get Champions League football? I have a feeling that she’ll be off regardless if the contract isn’t sorted soon. How many players run their contract down and end up staying.
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The contracts tend to be shorter in the women's game (although presumably Todd Boehly might soon change that) so it is still possible that if we make the top 3 she will stay. Miedema only extended with about a month left on her previous deal last year. That being said it does feel as if this is heading towards an exit in the summer, if not now. To be honest I think potentially losing Batlle, who I think is our best player, for free in the summer might be an even bigger loss if we don't get her signed up.
 
Red in STL said:
Why - if it's about money you can't really blame her, the women don't get paid anywhere near what an average PL player does
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when she signed she made no secret of the fact she is a lifelong United fan, as are her family. Showed pictures of her as a kid in the shirt. We’re the best we’ve ever been and top of the league on goal difference as things stand. Does she not want to build this team and uniteds name in women’s football? Do arsenal women pay that much more than United women do? Do they get bigger that much bigger attendances than we do week in week out? Doesn’t she want to see where the club goes over the next couple years, especially with new ownership? Herself and toone feel like the faces of this club (womens team). We signed her from brighton with 7 appearances to her name and she’s elevated to a star in the game, is she really going to go to a direct rival right now? When we’re top of the league? She is clearly open, she’s refused all contract offers and it’s got this far…

one thing I will say.. it shows a lack of ambition from united if we let her leave, even if it is a world record. The only way I’d be happy is if we use the money to replace her with a better player and it’s probably too late in the window for that (probably why arsenal waited until now so we can’t replace her in time). They will probably get her for free in the summer either way, so it leaves us screwed.

it feels worse than James going to Chelsea, as she should have atleast a little loyalty to this club. I know if I had the chance to play for united I’d never want to play elsewhere (easy to say I know) but I can’t imagine wanting to play for arsenal! This one hurts.
 
Over my dead body she will be leaving for any team in the UK! FECKSAKE, FECK RIGHT OF ARSENAL!
 
ForeverRed1 said:
when she signed she made no secret of the fact she is a lifelong United fan, as are her family. Showed pictures of her as a kid in the shirt. We’re the best we’ve ever been and top of the league on goal difference as things stand. Does she not want to build this team and uniteds name in women’s football? Do arsenal women pay that much more than United women do? Do they get bigger that much bigger attendances than we do week in week out? Doesn’t she want to see where the club goes over the next couple years, especially with new ownership? Herself and toone feel like the faces of this club (womens team). We signed her from brighton with 7 appearances to her name and she’s elevated to a star in the game, is she really going to go to a direct rival right now? When we’re top of the league? She is clearly open, she’s refused all contract offers and it’s got this far…

one thing I will say.. it shows a lack of ambition from united if we let her leave, even if it is a world record. The only way I’d be happy is if we use the money to replace her with a better player and it’s probably too late in the window for that (probably why arsenal waited until now so we can’t replace her in time). They will probably get her for free in the summer either way, so it leaves us screwed.

it feels worse than James going to Chelsea, as she should have atleast a little loyalty to this club. I know if I had the chance to play for united I’d never want to play elsewhere (easy to say I know) but I can’t imagine wanting to play for arsenal! This one hurts.
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I have no idea what she's gets now or what she's being offered, if it's money then we'll have to assume Arsenal are offering a lot more, female players don't earn like the men do so are probably more likely to jump at a bigger offer
 
Why is everyone assuming she wants to leave? It’s entirely possible that Arsenal have simply put in a speculative bid to show they’ve tried to sign the top attacker they promised in this window. They’ve also bid for Signe Bruun for significantly less than what they offered for Russo. There’s nothing out there saying Russo asked to leave as things stand, her contract situation has long been expected to be sorted at the end of the season when our Champions League fate is known. Everyone is so knee jerk here.

This isn’t a referendum on Russo’s loyalty or whatever, it’s on the ambition of the club for the women’s team.
 
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TMS said:
Why is everyone assuming she wants to leave? It’s entirely possible that Arsenal have simply put in a speculative bid to show they’ve tried to sign the top attacker they promised in this window. They’ve also bid for Signe Bruun for significantly less than what they offered for Russo. There’s nothing out there saying Russo asked to leave as things stand, her contract situation has long been expected to be sorted at the end of the season when our Champions League fate is known. Everyone is so knee jerk here.

This isn’t a referendum on Russo’s loyalty or whatever, it’s on the ambition of the club for the women’s team.
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The fact that the contract discussions have been going since before the season started suggests something is amiss or she would have signed it
 
Red in STL said:
I have no idea what she's gets now or what she's being offered, if it's money then we'll have to assume Arsenal are offering a lot more, female players don't earn like the men do so are probably more likely to jump at a bigger offer
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Which in itself is ridiculous because what she will be asking for is probably less than what the men get in a week. I guess you break the structure once you pay one player more than everyone else .. but we really should be doing everything to keep most of this team together. Maybe it’s time United re-think their strategy and pay on par with Chelsea, Lyon, arsenal etc.
 
ForeverRed1 said:
Which in itself is ridiculous because what she will be asking for is probably less than what the men get in a week. I guess you break the structure once you pay one player more than everyone else .. but we really should be doing everything to keep most of this team together. Maybe it’s time United re-think their strategy and pay on par with Chelsea, Lyon, arsenal etc.
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Well the last part is not gonna happen until the Glazers are gone
 
Just to put numbers on what we may be talking about here. The current record transfer fee in the women's game is under 500k.

We're looking at Arsenal maybe offering us 500k to spoil our season and improve theirs. It wouldn't just reduce our chances of winning a trophy or getting in the European places for the first time. It would also be a red light flashing over the club's ambition.

For players like Batlle and Earps - both in the final months of their contracts - it would be another reason to doubt United.

Arsenal are right to try it - they've got serious injury troubles and United are a direct rival, not just on the field but in terms of sponsors. That 500k is a lot in the women's game - it would be a huge boost to the team budget, but it would also be a really bad signal from us.
 
ForeverRed1 said:
Which in itself is ridiculous because what she will be asking for is probably less than what the men get in a week. I guess you break the structure once you pay one player more than everyone else .. but we really should be doing everything to keep most of this team together. Maybe it’s time United re-think their strategy and pay on par with Chelsea, Lyon, arsenal etc.
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I think it goes back to why United started this team. One element was the PR liability of us not having one - it looked bad in the media, it was starting to look bad to sponsors.

The other element though was that the women's game was changing. More TV coverage, it's own sponsors etc. More teams were going full-time professional. The quality of training and the pitches was going up. Standards were rising.

The game was going from niche interest with some talented looking players and some decent passages of play to a proper competitive sport that was attracting more fans at the grounds and more TV viewers. It was starting to look like a possible new market, not just a cost centre - and with the money involved it was worth the gamble.

We arrived late, but we were just in time. Casey Stoney got us of to a great start. It's still her players and her purchases that are the heart of this team. It's still her contracts that we're trying to renew.

The game is moving on fast. Transfer fees and wages were already rising at the top (Chelsea, Barcelona, Lyon) now the next layer have kicked on (PSG, Arsenal, Real Madrid). The Euros was huge for the women's game - players suddenly became stars. United haven't yet decided where they want to sit on the hierarchy - Arsenal are asking the question.
 
ForeverRed1 said:
when she signed she made no secret of the fact she is a lifelong United fan, as are her family. Showed pictures of her as a kid in the shirt. We’re the best we’ve ever been and top of the league on goal difference as things stand. Does she not want to build this team and uniteds name in women’s football? Do arsenal women pay that much more than United women do? Do they get bigger that much bigger attendances than we do week in week out? Doesn’t she want to see where the club goes over the next couple years, especially with new ownership? Herself and toone feel like the faces of this club (womens team). We signed her from brighton with 7 appearances to her name and she’s elevated to a star in the game, is she really going to go to a direct rival right now? When we’re top of the league? She is clearly open, she’s refused all contract offers and it’s got this far…

one thing I will say.. it shows a lack of ambition from united if we let her leave, even if it is a world record. The only way I’d be happy is if we use the money to replace her with a better player and it’s probably too late in the window for that (probably why arsenal waited until now so we can’t replace her in time). They will probably get her for free in the summer either way, so it leaves us screwed.

it feels worse than James going to Chelsea, as she should have atleast a little loyalty to this club. I know if I had the chance to play for united I’d never want to play elsewhere (easy to say I know) but I can’t imagine wanting to play for arsenal! This one hurts.
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Yes, it’s crunch time for The Glazers and the club. Are they serious about challenging for the top or is it just a facade for them? There is no acceptable reason ehy we shouldn’t be able to bid more than Arsenal for one of our key players, nor why we should take 500k over a potential league chase.
 
jojojo said:
Then let her go in the summer on a free transfer. Don't let her leave mid-season to strengthen a direct rival while we're still contenders.
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I agree. I responded to the poster asking why the contract has not been renewed.
 
Cassidy said:
I agree. I responded to the poster asking why the contract has not been renewed.
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Yep. Players do come and go, they leave for all kinds of reasons and that's inevitable. I just don't want her to leave over money.
 
Red in STL said:
The fact that the contract discussions have been going since before the season started suggests something is amiss or she would have signed it
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Maybe because she got lowballed as previously stated in the thread? And since then she acquired a tonne of additional leverage after her performances at the Euros and became desired by a higher echelon of club. It's still very realistic that her preferred option is to stay at United and play Champions League football for them, but is waiting to see that secured and what United offer at that time before committing to the club. Nothing to suggest that wouldn't be the case yet everyone is ready to bin her off for a lack of loyalty.
 
Himannv said:
Then the reason she wants out is important. If she dreams to play for Arsenal then it's a different story, but if the reason is money or lack of ambition on our part then it's on the club to address it appropriately.
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Her family live in Maidstone/Kent. A town which I've worked before.

So it would make sense to want to be closer to them. Hopefully United doing well this season will make her rethink though.
 
jojojo said:
Just to put numbers on what we may be talking about here. The current record transfer fee in the women's game is under 500k.

We're looking at Arsenal maybe offering us 500k to spoil our season and improve theirs. It wouldn't just reduce our chances of winning a trophy or getting in the European places for the first time. It would also be a red light flashing over the club's ambition.

For players like Batlle and Earps - both in the final months of their contracts - it would be another reason to doubt United.

Arsenal are right to try it - they've got serious injury troubles and United are a direct rival, not just on the field but in terms of sponsors. That 500k is a lot in the women's game - it would be a huge boost to the team budget, but it would also be a really bad signal from us.
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Its £400k. But interestingly, the next best on the list is £250k. Kevin Keegan was sold to Hamburger SV from Liverpool in 1977 for £500k.

I would expect fees in the womens game to increase rapidly over the next 5 years as the game continues to grow. The club would be wise not to fall for the temptation to accept a world record bid, when the womens game is seeing growth and this fee wont be "all that much" in a few years
 


Deadline is 5pm for national transfers and midnight for international transfers. Arsenal are also bidding on Signe Bruun, but Lyon reluctant to sell this window.

And maybe reassuring news from United...
 
Red in STL said:
We'll see, all this makes me think she's leaving one way or another, if not now then for nothing at the end of the season
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True, I think she'll likely go in the summer. But at least we have her for our CL, if not title, push rather than strengthening a direct rival
 
brian017 said:
True, I think she'll likely go in the summer. But at least we have her for our CL, if not title, push rather than strengthening a direct rival
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A record fee for someone leaving for nothing in a few months might be tempting to some, I'm curious to know what the contract problems are
 
I don't follow this and had never heard of her before, but surely we can't have Arsenal treat us as some second string club you can raid with 500k offers?

Less so when they will likely win the Premier League this year.
 
antohan said:
I don't follow this and had never heard of her before, but surely we can't have Arsenal treat us as some second string club you can raid with 500k offers?

Less so when they will likely win the Premier League this year.
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I understand that's a world record fee for a female player, kinda like PSG buying Neymar for 200 million
 
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