Even more so given that we went in for him at the end of the window. If there had been some issues with him, or his new manager had doubts about him, then a bid at our valuation might make sense. Athletic, despite their limited scope for recruitment might have had their eyes on someone and, given the new stadium, a cash injection early in the window might not have been turned down flat. But at the end of the window? Nah.
Ander Herrera is a Manchester United Player!
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Even more so given that we went in for him at the end of the window. If there had been some issues with him, or his new manager had doubts about him, then a bid at our valuation might make sense. Athletic, despite their limited scope for recruitment might have had their eyes on someone and, given the new stadium, a cash injection early in the window might not have been turned down flat. But at the end of the window? Nah.
It's weird indeed. We needed him more than Athletic Club needed (or wanted) to sell him, and considering it was right at the end of the transfer window, it meant that they always had the upper hand in the negotiations - given that we wanted something that they didn't want to sell and we only had a little bit of time to get the transfer done. But we still went in way under the release clause thinking there was a realistic chance of getting him? I'm amazed that considering all of that we ever really thought we were going to get our man with a £23m bid that we weren't ever willing to increase on.
I find it strange because them leaving him out of the Madrid game, suggested that his head had been turned, indicating that there was a possibility of getting him if we met the clause.
While I'm not going to spend the season dwelling on it. I find it odd.
If I was haggling I'd probably consider that the seller neither needs nor wants to sell the item I want, and has a history of only selling items at their agreed buyout price, and even then trying to be obstructive.
After I considered this I might also consider that haggling at below the buyout price just because that's what I personally "value" the item at would be a completely pointless thing to do.
I might also not haggle myself into paying £28m for an item which even the seller only valued at £23.5m.
Not only is it unignorable stupidity, it isn't even a consistent method of stupidity.
Your television analogy may work a little better if when you bought a lesser tv that didn't fit your needs you had to keep paying for said tv despite the fact it isn't what you needed or improved your television viewing.
Except if I couldn't find one that suited me I'd probably just accept I need to fork out the extra £100.
Some supposed expert was talking about it on Talksport just after the transfer window. The problem seems to be that Bilbao didn't want to sell him. The fella used Javi Martinez as an example - Bilbao didn't want to sell so they paid the buyout fee and because of the legal complexities it took over a month to do. Seems its not as easy as paying the money and that's it.
Doesn't really matter now because Moyes said we were never going to pay the full release clause anyway.
Don't think we will be getting him in Jan...if we are only prepared to pay £23m and Bilbao want £30m then this will be another failed bid.
I come for the banter but I stay for the insight.
Playing well tonight against Celta Vigo...so is Rafinha
I say we wank 30-40 million pounds on another Spanish midfield maestro, Oliver Torres. 18-19 years old, plays exactly like Iniesta and Scholes in terms controlling tempo of match, pinging 30-50 m passes to players (and trees as well, I am sure). Sure to be valued above 50-60 million pounds. Defo better than Herrera. Saw him play live before and was just pure brilliance.
I like him too but it's believed that Atletico gave Barcelona first option on him as part of the cheap David Villa deal.
Never mind Oliver 'I've barely played a senior game' Torres. He undeniably looks deadly at under-age but don't be making million pound assessments based on that.
Herrera is 24 and has proven that he is more than capable of destroying a team with a pass (ala United and Barcelona performances). He is exactly what we are crying out for and if we can get him, he should be bought ASAP. Anybody who thinks otherwise, I just don't know...
Herrera is 24 and has proven that he is more than capable of destroying a team with a pass (ala United and Barcelona performances). He is exactly what we are crying out for and if we can get him, he should be bought ASAP. Anybody who thinks otherwise, I just don't know...
I don't view the release clause as the price for a player. It is the upper value set for forcing a player to remain at a club. Plenty players are sold for less than their release clause.
Some strange logic in this thread.
Some strange logic in this thread.
Did you know his club is Bilbao? That should clear up your confusion.
No.
If Bilbao are selling a player then the release clause is their value, thats the end of the discussion.
Our team shape looks pretty settled now.
Where would people see Herrera actually fitting in?
As a 3 with Fellaini and Carrick, or as a 2 with Carrick, with Fellaini playing the squad player role?
Where would people see Herrera actually fitting in?
As a 3 with Fellaini and Carrick, or as a 2 with Carrick, with Fellaini playing the squad player role?
That's not how it works in Spain, they tend to have sky high valuations for everyone. It's the maximum price.
Why are you talking about Spain?
We're talking about Bilbao, they do not sell players willingly. If you want to get a player from them you pay their release clause even then they will make it difficult. Thats how Bilbao work, if you do business with Bilbao you pay their release clause or you don't do business. Ask bayern.
It may well be, but it's also a price that they don't HAVE to sell below, and 99% of the time, they have no reason/ need to sell, so if it's going to happen, the release clause does usually get paid.Bilbao doesn't set ridiculous prices, maybe about 20% above "market valuation". But unlike most other clubs, they mean it. Treat it as a price tag at a department store. If you don't agree with it, then you'll have to shop elsewhere.
So basically they are keeping him as a sort of prisoner, either pay that amount or more or he's staying put. It's if someone wants to pay that amount for a lad who is not a full international for Spain. I can now understand why United didn't want to pay that amount. Could you imagine what we would have had to pay for Ronaldo, even at that young age if he had been at Bilbao? Bloody hell they would even want a kings ransom for Ashley Young.
The problem with this deal is with how Bilbao are run. Top Basque players are hard to come by and money isnt an issue for them. Unless we wait on Hererra' contract to run out we will have to pay full whack for him. If he could somehow break into the Spanish team soon that might change minds but I can't see that happening.
I was wondering, how are they allowed to have a policy of just play Basque players? It wouldn't be allowed anywhere else in Europe?
There is a thread on that. I too wondered the same.
Im guessing they have special dispensation? Im not sure. According to this article they have recently relaxed it.
http://metro.co.uk/2013/05/31/is-athletic-bilbao-basque-only-policy-playing-by-the-rules-3823513/
Well I'm not sure, it depends on the player. Bilbao are upfront and honest about what they do and I think everyone has enough about them to realise not to sign a contract with a release clause that far divorced from their actual worth but yes if they did have Ronaldo levels of talent coming through and managed to get him to sign a new contract whilst he was approaching his peak his release clause would have been high.
Munian already has a £36m release clause, but I can't see him signing a new contract with a more inflated release clause until he sees how good he gets. Bilbao are a special club and they managed to condition their players into thinking that as well, but theres a limit to how much that can temper players ambition.
It's like the players want to repay the club, but then by signing these contracts, they end up handcuffing themselves to the same club.
We paid a fecking king's ransom for Ashley Young anyway.
How does that differ from any football club? Clubs don't just sell their best players because Manchester United come knocking, they sell when Manchester United meet their valuation, which in Herrera's case is £30m, a price he agreed when he signed his contract. You could argue Rooney is even more of a "prisoner", at least Herrera has a buyout, we wouldn't have sold Rooney to Chelsea whatever they offered.
A challenge to that policy would be based on EU laws on the basis of Spain being part of the EU and the Basque region being part of Spain...
Anyone willing to open that can of worms would be a massive idiot. And I mean epic proportions, not just any old City fan.
I made a thread on the topic (of the ethics of Bilbao's player recruitment policy) in the football forum a while back actually, but most people seemed to be of the view that I was talking rubbish and there was nothing wrong with it.
Moyes obviously doesn't do release clause buyouts....
Very true, we may pay more than the buyout for good measure.40 million Euro for Herrera!
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