Frenkie de Jong | The last muppeting lap

[antohan]

outside of Haaland I disagree. Mbappe will join Madrid eventually. Chelsea got gazumped on a lot of their targets to Barca. And this is a Barca team going through so much internally. Outside of getting players from the Portuguese league and Haaland the pull of PL is still second to Madrid/Barcelona. Mbappe took the biggest contract in history and even then he only signed for 2 years. Man city are the only team with gobs of money that can hand out silly contracts if they wanted to like psg. Liverpool are smart but won’t be going for superstars they’d rather build them and the other teams don’t have the pull the Spanish teams have right now as Chelsea are losing out on several players by a mere phone call at the last second. United don’t have CL and teams like Tottenham and arsenal definitely don’t have the pull of the Spanish teams.

People can argue about the relative merits of London, Manchester, Madrid and Barcelona but the fact is if you are a top tier player the main reason you'd prefer an English club would be wanting to play in the Premier League.

It's a better league, a bigger challenge, and something an achievement-driven player would crave. Ronaldo will always have that on Messi.

Other than that, it's La Liga hands down. CL guaranteed every year, plenty of dead rubbers, can regularly get rested or play less before/after CL games, winter break, nicer weather throughout...

The only other factor is language. EPL works well for Scandinavians and Netherlands but most of the rest of Europe and Latin America would rather live in a Spanish speaking country. It's a no brainer, other things equal.

 

[harms]

Except he isn’t legally owed anything from what I understand and Barca clearly don’t want to pay. The smart move at this point is to cut your losses and actually continue your career elsewhere, rather than stay put at a club that obviously don’t want you.

It's really not a smart move considering that he holds all the cards there. Time works in his favour and United's offer isn't going anywhere.

 

[Grylte]

Third lever means nothing, other than that fat feck Laporta is killing the club for short term gains

I don't like Real Madrid either, but i really, really hope they and Atletico win the next 10 La Ligas, and Barca never gets to a CL QF again, just to see what happens.

 

[Grylte]

A stubborn idiot for not letting go of 17m?! Really?

The things i would do for 17 million euros/pounds....

 

[Frosty]

Barca able to register their new players

How on earth are the TV rights for Barca Studios worth 400m euros?

 

[Chief123]

They are too busy trying to hijack Cucurella from City and also the worlds most expensive defender in Fofana.

 

[sglowrider]

The Glazers would love to do that, but the EPL doesn't allow clubs to negotiate their own TV deals.

I know but this would be a medium-term opportunity. They have already tried to crack the stranglehold of the administrators of EPL, UEFA etc. Its like Uber, you cut out the middle guy.

 

[RkkMan]

Disagree with the analogy. United’s biggest issue now is only targeting one player for positions. We either pay over the odds to appease the manager or we play this awful waiting game. Some fans say that’s a great idea but I don’t get this logic. We waited a season to get Sancho and saved ourselves some money but were left with Dan James as the only RW for a season. We then panic bought two young RW for about £35m anyway (it seems likely both won’t have a career at United). And with players coming in so late in the window they have missed pre-season training and any new tactics the manager is trying to implement. Just like Maguire and Cavani when we signed them.

The De Jong situation is exactly the same. Wasted the whole pre-season period chasing him and I still believe it’s not happening. It seems more likely we will wait rather than panic buy another option (because we don’t have a viable one). But this squad ‘transition’ process continues to be extended year after year. With the players that left in the summer we simply need 5/6 new faces in by now, and there were plenty of options available on free transfers which we missed out on.

The club sits on their hands and doesn’t take decisive action. Man City have walked away from the Cucurella deal because it’s too much money, the player even handed in a transfer request but the club walked away. I’m sure they will find a suitable option, because their scouts do a decent job. This idea that De Jong is the only player to resolve our midfield is wrong. He hasn’t even done well at Barcelona and if reports are true about salaries above £400k a week, we are repeating the same mistakes as before.

Both Fred and McTominay need replacing as starters. Half the league have a better CM pairing. There were plenty of players available if the club moved quicker. Chasing a lost cause for months has meant we have lost out.

City have a well structured Recruitment and Scouting System that's been in place for over 5yrs and fully streamlined into Pep's philosophy. They can afford to walk away and get suitable alternatives
Our two heads of scouts and main negotiator walked/got sacked and Ten Hag has virtually rejected the options from the transfer/scouting list created under Ole Lisandro being picked over Pau Torres an example. Not to mention our Recruitment and Scouting Department is under reconstruction.
I highly doubt we have suitable alternatives to FDJ that the manager would want so we just have to keep pushing through with the deal as long as it's there to be done

 

[sglowrider]

How on earth are the TV rights for Barca Studios worth 400m euros?

I think I read somewhere where Barca's TV rights annually are like $140-160million from La Liga.

 

[Withnail]

So it's down to a grin. Oh dear

Don't forget Mikky's resting-bitch-face/possibly-sad-at-leaving-Barcelona-face

 

[Frosty]

I think I read somewhere where Barca's TV rights annually are like $140-160million from La Liga.

But didn't they already sell a bunch of TV rights to an American company?

Do they have more than one set of TV rights?

This seems to suggest different things are being sold:

https://barcauniversal.com/barcelona-make-e767-million-from-sale-of-club-assets/

 

[Grylte]

Instead of zipping up and down all the time, i just put on football shorts

 

[sglowrider]

Instead of zipping up and down all the time, i just put on football shorts

Go full kit?

Suggest boxers with buttons. More subtle.

 

[lefty_jakobz]

Barca seem to be selling everything…except Frenkie

 

[Plant0x84]

Instead of zipping up and down all the time, i just put on football shorts

But then are you tucking it out of the waistband, or letting it dangle down one leg? Surely you’re not whipping them off completely in a buck-fizzesque display of muppet exuberance?!

 

[Shakesy]

The things i would do for 17 million euros/pounds....

A thread on its own!

 

[sglowrider]

But didn't they already sell a bunch of TV rights to an American company?

Do they have more than one set of TV rights?

This seems to suggest different things are being sold:

https://barcauniversal.com/barcelona-make-e767-million-from-sale-of-club-assets/

Maybe its like MUTV where they have delayed/on-demand content of the matches and other documentary content?

Anyway, with 767million bucks, they can go on a shopping spree like some kid in a candy store.


Its crazy. They are acting like they earned this money for free. Party like its 1999, Ronaldinho style.

 

[TsuWave]

Do we have levers at Old Trafford?

 

[sglowrider]

The things i would do for 17 million euros/pounds....

You would give it all that up ... so you can get a rockin' place in the leafy exciting, X-Games central, suburb of Moss Side. Thats how you roll.

 

[Cypriot]

Do we have levers at Old Trafford?

Yeah but if we pull it the roof will start leaking again.

 

[crossy1686]

Each lever is like a 100m! Who is buying so easily with no negotiations.

What's the point in negotiating when it's worth 15x more than that in reality? The buyer (an American investment firm) are getting a steal and Barcelona need the money right now.

 

[Posh Red]

Do we have levers at Old Trafford?

There were plenty last season. Usually at around the seventy minute mark.

 

[Teja]

Barca TV is part of Barca Studios. The deal is primarily based on developing a digital strategy (NFTs and all that bollocks).

How on earth are the TV rights for Barca Studios worth 400m euros?

What's the point in negotiating when it's worth 15x more than that in reality? The buyer (an American investment firm) are getting a steal and Barcelona need the money right now.

Who cares about NFTs, they're a rounding error.

https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/barcelona-barca-studios-joan-laporta-debt-loss-revenue-2020-21/

Since then, 2Playbook noted in December 2020 that Barca Studios was generating more than €30 million (US$34.8 million) in revenue and had earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of €17 million (US$19.7 million).

I'm amazed that they make like 30M a year and a profit of 17M on that to boot. To the best of my knowledge, they produce content like Amazon / Netflix (Club documentaries - think all or nothing, Pogmentary etc.). I think they also get the Barca TV subscriptions (who really subscribes to Barca TV?).

I thought they also owned the players' commercial rights - so they derive revenue from things like commercials etc. but apparently not.

 

[antohan]

It's no longer our problem. We've had a bid accepted and now it's between Barca and De Jong. Sure, we could go and pay £17m and bail them out, but why would we? Why shouldn't Barca use £17m of our bid to pay him off?

If he doesn't come, he doesn't come. But the fee agreed is about right. Paying almost 100m for a player they don't want would be silly.

That's where I would stand, yes. I just don't think we will.

 

[VP89]

This thread is riddled with excitement, I think mainly for banter. Can anyone update if there's been anything new reported? Its hard to find where we are on this

 

[Shakesy]

The things i would do for 17 million euros/pounds....

Let's see:

• Anything sexual
• I'd eat anything that wouldn't kill me
• I'd humiliate myself in front of the whole world
• I'd cut off three fingers
• I'd have a dentist pull a tooth with no anesthetics
• Etc.

 

[Mr Pigeon]

This thread is riddled with excitement, I think mainly for banter. Can anyone update if there's been anything new reported? Its hard to find where we are on this

Mikky did a sad face () on Instagram except it was more like a blank face (where the feck is the fecking blank face emoji ffs) with a smirk face at the end (haven't got that either, Niall is a disgrace) so everyone went insane as usual because we still have no updates.

 

[tomaldinho1]

This thread is riddled with excitement, I think mainly for banter. Can anyone update if there's been anything new reported? Its hard to find where we are on this

I’ve learned he has a pukka missus, Barcelona is a nicer city than Manchester but Manchester has better kebabs and butterflies mean it’s on.

 

[Frosty]

Maybe its like MUTV where they have delayed/on-demand content of the matches and other documentary content?

Anyway, with 767million bucks, they can go on a shopping spree like some kid in a candy store.


Its crazy. They are acting like they earned this money for free. Party like its 1999, Ronaldinho style.

All I will say is that if MUTV was valued at 400m by the club, I don't think anyone would take it seriously. But they have found a willing buyer. And like you say, it will all go on spending. It astounds me they aren''t taking a year or two to repay the debt to get everything on a more sustainable level.

 

[Grylte]

Go full kit?

Suggest boxers with buttons. More subtle.

I live alone, i don't need subtle, i need convenience.

But then are you tucking it out of the waistband, or letting it dangle down one leg? Surely you’re not whipping them off completely in a buck-fizzesque display of muppet exuberance?!

I don't think i would think it through, probably just over the waistband.... i'll come back to you after a couple days with an update.

 

[Plant0x84]

So Chelsea want to hijack FDJ and Sesko from us, and as we’ve seen Barca love to hijack a Chelsea deal - does that mean eventually Barca hijack their own sale and FDJ gets to stay?!!

 

[Zen86]

It's really not a smart move considering that he holds all the cards there. Time works in his favour and United's offer isn't going anywhere.

Not really. It’s just a case of who blinks first and we should have walked away from this a long time ago.

 

[Grylte]

A thread on its own!

Looks like it's already started

You would give it all that up ... so you can get a rockin' place in the leafy exciting, X-Games central, suburb of Moss Side. Thats how you roll.

Let's see:

• Anything sexual
• I'd eat anything that wouldn't kill me
• I'd humiliate myself in front of the whole world
• I'd cut off three fingers
• I'd have a dentist pull a tooth with no anesthetics
• Etc.

 

[izak]

Can we actually pull this sort of levers Barca are on, I mean if we are very desperate to sign players??

 

[moses]

All I will say is that if MUTV was valued at 400m by the club, I don't think anyone would take it seriously. But they have found a willing buyer. And like you say, it will all go on spending. It astounds me they aren''t taking a year or two to repay the debt to get everything on a more sustainable level.

Is it the equivalent? Are the TV rights in Spain done through the clubs TV somehow as opposed to pooled deals. That was what I assumed because of the insane amounts?

 

[Lynty]

Disagree with the analogy. United’s biggest issue now is only targeting one player for positions. We either pay over the odds to appease the manager or we play this awful waiting game. Some fans say that’s a great idea but I don’t get this logic. We waited a season to get Sancho and saved ourselves some money but were left with Dan James as the only RW for a season. We then panic bought two young RW for about £35m anyway (it seems likely both won’t have a career at United). And with players coming in so late in the window they have missed pre-season training and any new tactics the manager is trying to implement. Just like Maguire and Cavani when we signed them.

The De Jong situation is exactly the same. Wasted the whole pre-season period chasing him and I still believe it’s not happening. It seems more likely we will wait rather than panic buy another option (because we don’t have a viable one). But this squad ‘transition’ process continues to be extended year after year. With the players that left in the summer we simply need 5/6 new faces in by now, and there were plenty of options available on free transfers which we missed out on.

The club sits on their hands and doesn’t take decisive action. Man City have walked away from the Cucurella deal because it’s too much money, the player even handed in a transfer request but the club walked away. I’m sure they will find a suitable option, because their scouts do a decent job. This idea that De Jong is the only player to resolve our midfield is wrong. He hasn’t even done well at Barcelona and if reports are true about salaries above £400k a week, we are repeating the same mistakes as before.

Both Fred and McTominay need replacing as starters. Half the league have a better CM pairing. There were plenty of players available if the club moved quicker. Chasing a lost cause for months has meant we have lost out.

I think the difference is, I'm still confident we'll get De Jong. You're not. So to you - waiting around seems like a reckless gamble.

It's just a matter of perspective. I consider it worth the gamble, being 90% sure of success. You consider it a bad gamble, as you're only 30% confident of success.

Neither of us have enough information to really know. But Ten Hag and Murtogh do, and we know which way they're betting (and ultimately Ten Hag knows his job is at stake in the long run - having approx. 6 transfers/two windows before pressure is placed on his job, every transfer counts)

Another way to look at it, there are other options at improving our midfield - but non are anywhere near De Jong's quality. Next year Neves, SMS, Rice are all within the last year of their contract, plus Dortmund will be looking to cash in on Bellingham. Plenty more viable optons. If we wanted any of those now - we're talking £70m-£150m

Ultimately, it's Ten Hag's first window and you've got to give him some faith.

 

[antohan]

Say what you want, but having a midfield duo called Savage Zidane is pretty fecking awesome.

Savage Zidane sounds cool. Like he’s the bare knuckle champion in the back streets of Oran, Algeria

Aye, from the moment it crossed my mind I no longer care about this deal. I just want Savage Zidane on our teamsheet, bring it on.

Oddly, a savage Zidane lost the 2006 World Cup final and the savage De Jong lost the one in 2010.

 

[sglowrider]

I live alone, i don't need subtle, i need convenience.



I don't think i would think it through, probably just over the waistband.... i'll come back to you after a couple days with an update.

Getting a Di Marie vibe here.

 

[Frosty]

Is it the equivalent? Are the TV rights in Spain done through the clubs TV somehow as opposed to pooled deals. That was what I assumed because of the insane amounts?

I don't understand it. I know the club sold one bunch of TV rights to American investors, and now they are selling 25% of the TV rights to Barca Studios, which I presume means two separate deals, unless they have sold the same set of TV games and videos twice? (Which I am not discounting).

 

[Berbaclass]

How on earth are the TV rights for Barca Studios worth 400m euros?

It’s not solely TV rights.