devilish
Juventus fan who used to support United
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2002
- Messages
- 62,979
Dortmund has a much more prevalent existing habit to let their players go to other clubs at their peak. In history they have been a selling club to finance their operation, as they don't have as high income as us from TV-deals and general sponsors from being a dominant world-wide brand with a huge fanbase.
We have not been strangers to letting players go on the cheap by keeping them longer than what makes financial sense (to much criticism from some in the fanbase). It's a gamble from our side if we keep Pogba through next season with the goal that he signs a new contract next spring or summer. That we belive in our plan to become competitive again, which makes good players want to stay with us.
Would it be best for us if he signs a new contract this summer? Yes, for sure. But from Pogba's perspective he doesn't have much to gain from extending this season other than a bit higher salary for a year. It would be a gamble on his side, but with pretty good odds that in a year his physical prowess and skill has not vanished, and that the financial market hopefully stabilizes a bit. If United doesn't look more solid by next summer he can easier get the move to a club of his choice since his fee will be lower, and he can make up the year of lost higher salary by getting a lil higher sign-on bonus since his fee is lower.
if Pogba extends this summer it will be because he already believes in this team to have turned it around, but also likely dependant on our signings this summer (and to some extent who leaves). Of course he's been uncertain about his future when we look at the past 4 years. It makes sense for him to consider other options when his contract is nearing an end if we don't improve as a team.
I've also been at crossroads in my life where I was considering a change, but decided to stay the course because I felt confident in reassurances that my gig was going to get better. And I didn't regret it either. It's the same for athletes, it's just a lot more people speculate about their future than ours. Putting on pressure (externally from the agent) is a tactic to get your employer to put their money where their mouth is and commit to giving you those reassurances, usually by signing other quality players, that will make you want to stay around. Similar to how you would renegotiate your own salary and benefits around your employer having a good plan for your future and making sure you have a good team of colleagues around you.
As for the bolded part. Transfer deals with 2 or more players coming from one club is extremely rare, as it's very complicated to get everyone to agree to terms. I also don't see Real willing to let Ødegaard go anywhere in the next years unless the player kicks up a fuss because he wants to leave. Which currently he doesn't have a reason for, especially not to us at the current moment (which breaks my heart to say). Ødegaard is still young and can afford to wait a few more seasons to continue developing as a player and see what his place will be at Real in the future, as the intention seems to be that he will replace Modric in a year or so.
I would love Ødegaard to us, but he's set up well financially and already in a top team, so he has no reason to look for a next move yet.
The most likely reason I would see him wanting a move to us (in some years) is if we reestablish ourselves as a dominant team again, we sign and field Haaland week in and out (and bonus if Solskjær is still the coach). National romanticism sometimes not to be underrated, especially from a country like Norway that does not have a history of a lot of good players. I could see them wanting to play together week in and out at club-level to increase their dynamic to help their performances on the National team. And United is a good option for that since we can afford big deals/salaries, and United is so big in Norway/Nordics.
Or we don't do well as a club and Haaland goes go Real instead.
Only time will tell.
I hope we sign Sancho and that Pogba stays, even if he doesn't sign a new contract for another year. If we can do that we look to become a dominant force again for many years with them, Rashford, Bruno and Martial. If we can add Haaland as well next summer then I'll be walking on clouds.
What makes you think that Sancho won't be asking for a high salary? He's one of the most hyped players in Europe, especially on the RW as there isn't many high calibre players there.
And with a recent CL win as well as this year's PL win they should be able to command higher sponsorship fees, they won't necessarily need new signings to attract sponsors, to pay the existing high salaries.
Now they will need to update their roster at some point in order to stay competitive, but I think it's still one or two seasons too early to bring in someone who would be considered an immediate direct competitor to their front 3. It risks ruining the team dynamic and spirits in what is currently such a dominant team.
I do not think the situation is identical at all - Pogba plays for a giant club who are happy to hold on to him until they receive an offer in that's materially in excess of 100m. I think Pogba has also flirted of late with the idea of staying on top.
Sancho on the other hand seems to want out, looks to be having his eyes set on us and is playing for a selling club which has a price that is more reasonable than Pogbas.
Dortmund are facing a slightly different situation to us though. Similarly to Pogba Jadon might not want to stay at his club. However he's a respectable professional whose playing well for them week in week out. Its not the case with Pogba. Our legends hate him, his agent had openly stated that he wants all his clients out of United + since Pogba openly declared to want out he had vanished in the treatment room never to come back. There's a chance that Jadon would do a Ronaldo by signing a contract for them on the condition that they would sell him for a huge fee. I can't see Pogba doing that for us unless we bury him with money (ie Sanchez type of contract). I can't see that happening. In fact I'd be surprised if we have a Raiola client in 2-3 years time.
To conclude on that point, I am a big fan of Pogba. However as my tag cruelly suggest I am a bit of a Serie A fan as well. Take my word on this. You don't want to retain a Raiola player whose dangerously heading towards at the end of his contract. Have you seen how Ragnar Lodbrok ended up in Vikings? Its pretty much the same thing.
Regarding transfers I concede that swaps are rare in football especially when EPL clubs are concerned (they are far more popular in the Serie A). Having said that with this covid-19 crisis looming on everybody, cash will run short over everybody. Real seem to suffer from cash flow problem prior to the crisis. Things won't get better now. Hence, I can see them become interested in such type of deal. A- Pogba is a big name signing, the type the Galacticos would want. B- Most of the players I mentioned play a peripheral role at their club. C- Real would get a big name for free while getting rid of players in the process. Things are more difficult with Juve. They have an ageing side so the swaps that they would suggest would probably be either old players or trouble makers.
Finally what distinguish Sancho from Pogba is that the former is not yet at his peak of his career just yet. His main concern won't be money but to move at the right club who would help him develop his career further. Hence why I believe that a huge salary won't be his no 1 priority.