Ousmane Dembele | Fee agreed with Dortmund, medical on Monday, Barca go from MSN to LSD

[OutlawGER]

Not saying there is an obligation to do so. As I've written in another post Barca will and should expect to get shafted this late in the window, Dortmund would probably happily accept 100m euros for him in June or thereabouts.

Just hope the recent fee and wage inflation also will affect Dortmund. What is annoying with Dortmund is that they themselves expect to get players for a packet of crisps and a food stamp.

Clubs that sell to Dortmund in the future would be wise to add on a huge sell-on fee, like 40%.

bullshit. Dortmund just paid 30m for Schürrle(!), 25m for a broken Götze and 15m for Rode last summer.


Even if Dortmund sell Dembele for 200m right now, they would weaken their squad. Who should they buy this late into the window with their money to replace him? If i was in charge for them, i wouldn't sell at all. This lad has still 4 years left on his contract, they can still get good money for him in 2 years and have more time to find good replacements. Right now they would have to overpay massively for much lower quality.

 

[BBRBB]

bullshit. Dortmund just paid 30m for Schürrle(!), 25m for a broken Götze and 15m for Rode last summer.


Even if Dortmund sell Dembele for 200m right now, they would weaken their squad. Who should they buy this late into the window with their money to replace him? If i was in charge for them, i wouldn't sell at all. This lad has still 4 years left on his contract, they can still get good money for him in 2 years and have more time to find good replacements. Right now they would have to overpay massively for much lower quality.

BVB would not necessarily need to find a replacement of similar quality. They could give more time to Pulisic and use the money to strengthen the midfield and defence and not lose too much quality overall.

 

[JustFootballFan]

Bild says Dortmund fined Dembele over €100.000 for missing training.

 

[Suedesi]

That's a tad misleading, they're asking for "unfair" money because you're taking one of their best players and biggest talents, with 20 days to replace him in. If anything you're being unfair because PSG called your bluff.

feckoff, they just plucked him last year from Ligue 1. It's not like he's a German lad from the academy since he was 5.

He chose Dortmund over better clubs because he wanted a springboard to Barca. Just never thought the opportunity would come after 1 year.

@serghei thinks fair value is 100m, I think it's much lower than that. BVB bought him for 15m last year, have they really added 115m in value in a year to Dembele? No fecking way, their the most asshole club in Germany.

 

[ti vu]

BVB would not necessarily need to find a replacement of similar quality. They could give more time to Pulisic and use the money to strengthen the midfield and defence and not lose too much quality overall.

That is easier said than done. Young player can be inconsistent, even Dembele is. Pulisic is not where near guarantee to return that kind of expectation. Buying in August with clubs knowing Dortmund is desperate & has money would be quite tough. See Barcelona. They have double the previous transfer record fee yet, likely to break previous transfer fee for more of potential player.

feckoff, they just plucked him last year from Ligue 1. It's not like he's a German lad from the academy since he was 5.

He chose Dortmund over better clubs because he wanted a springboard to Barca. Just never thought the opportunity would come after 1 year.

@serghei thinks fair value is 100m, I think it's much lower than that. BVB bought him for 15m last year, have they really added 115m in value in a year to Dembele? No fecking way, their the most asshole club in Germany.

Didn't you learn from Verratti case? You have a contract. If you're that specific about moving to Barcelona then asked for including a certain escape clause; or it's in the clubs hand to see how it fits.

No clubs would like to be disrespected that way. They may want to sell, but they don't want to get bullied. It's not like Dembele would eventually lack suitors for similar price in the future.

 

[Suedesi]

bullshit. Dortmund just paid 30m for Schürrle(!), 25m for a broken Götze and 15m for Rode last summer.


Even if Dortmund sell Dembele for 200m right now, they would weaken their squad. Who should they buy this late into the window with their money to replace him? If i was in charge for them, i wouldn't sell at all. This lad has still 4 years left on his contract, they can still get good money for him in 2 years and have more time to find good replacements. Right now they would have to overpay massively for much lower quality.

Weaken their squad? As if they're going to win Buli or CL with Dembele. Taking the money - and it's a ton of money for German standards - and investing in young players and they just might.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

feckoff, they just plucked him last year from Ligue 1. It's not like he's a German lad from the academy since he was 5.

He chose Dortmund over better clubs because he wanted a springboard to Barca. Just never thought the opportunity would come after 1 year.

@serghei thinks fair value is 100m, I think it's much lower than that. BVB bought him for 15m last year, have they really added 115m in value in a year to Dembele? No fecking way, their the most asshole club in Germany.

You do not sign for one club because you want to sign for another club. And it does not help your case when you sign a 5 year contract.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

Weaken their squad? As if they're going to win Buli or CL with Dembele. Taking the money - and it's a ton of money for German standards - and investing in young players and they just might.

They can sign more players who want to join Barca at the first opportunity.

 

[Suedesi]

Barca style, rubs off on their "supporters", too.

As opposed to Bayern style "tapping" players in advance and getting them for free or for next to nothing.

Rolex Rummenigge is still is your CEO, no? And your father figure spent 2 years in prison for tax fraud. So spare us lessons about style.

 

[ti vu]

Weaken their squad? As if they're going to win Buli or CL with Dembele. Taking the money - and it's a ton of money for German standards - and investing in young players and they just might.

What if they miss out on getting in CL places for the following seasons.

This has been repeated quite few times by different posters: Other clubs would be aware that Dortmund would have money & being desperate. It's not easy to buy in August, let alone replace adequately.

Risk missing out CL + signing expensive way below Dembele quality replacement in a rush, can be more costly than keeping Dembele for at least another year. Dortmund attraction is that they can offer younger players chance to play in CL. Losing CL football, it's a blow to their plan. It's reasonable the board being cautious. It's unlikely Dembele value would drop nor he being stupid enough to risk his WC chance by being lazy & rebellious the whole season.

 

[Suedesi]

I'm saying barcelona are still so butthurt over neymar they're delaying his playing transfer out of pettiness

And it's not about players or managers, those tend to accept their fellow's choices. Barca players and valverde are fine with neymar. It's the board that's butthurt

That is true - the board has got an election coming up, and is under pressure to have shown to have done something in the market post-Neymar's exit, so that makes them even more desperate handing all the cards to Dortmund or Liverpool.

If I was Barca, I would not buy anyone this season, unless it's marginal players that can improve the squad, or cheap Spanish players you can buy by paying their clause. Try for Coutinho or Dembele next season for half the quoted prices.

That's the best case scenario for Barcelona, but not for Bartomeu and co., so I fully expect them to get rinsed for Dembele, who will not make the difference for Barca this season.

 

[Suedesi]

And Dortmund was never under the impression that they'd have Dembele for a long time. However, already losing him after 1 year in mid-August to a club that just received 222M? Obviously they're going to ask for a huge transfer fee. Dembele only thinks about his own career and Dortmund thinks of their own ambition. It is what it is. I don't feel Dembele is being an asshole for wanting to move (who expected Neymar to leave?) but in no way is Dortmund being an asshole either.

So what difference would it make to Dortmund this season if they receive 100m vs 130m? Would the extra money make their season better, or are they just being greedy?

I much rather respect Liverpool's position on Coutinho - NOT FOR SALE - than haggling over prices.

 

[Suedesi]

Dortmund made Lewandowski run his contract out because they refused to sell him to Bayern. Dembele should have known.

After Goetze they had no choice - they'd piss off their fans. However, they still sold Hummels to Bayern last year. They're Bayern's little bitches.

 

[De Portago]

That is true - and they've got an election coming up, are under pressure to have bought some players in the transfer, so that makes them even more desperate giving all the cards to Dortmund or Liverpool.

If I was Barca, I would not buy anyone in this season, unless it's marginal players that can improve the squad, or cheap Spanish players you can buy by paying their clause. Try for Coutinho or Dembele next season for half the quoted prices.

That's the best case scenario for Barcelona, but not for Bartomeu and co., so I fully expect them to get rinsed for Dembele, who will not make the difference for Barca this season.

I am not 100% sure about him not making the difference, but at the quoted price they would have to be absolutely out of their minds to buy him.

Agree completely with the other part, buy a decent midfielder for rotation (Serri or someone of the same ilk), if the proposed transfer for Inigo Martinez collapses another good centre back wouldn't go amiss. For the LW position, if they are really desperate for a galactico signing try to convince Griezmann. Otherwise, stick Deulofeu there and roll with it. Pedro probably had half his talent and was an important player for them for a number of years.

 

[Suedesi]

Barcelona have been getting away with murder for as long as I can remember regarding transfer fee's. About time they've been probably shafted, like the rest of us. I guess the lure and of playing my with Messi is warring thin, as he nears his last couple of years at his best, if even that.

Barca getting shafted on Dembele sets a precedent which sooner or later will come to bite us. Mourinho was absolutely right when he said (paraphrasing here) 'Neymar is not expensive, it's the other 30m players who are going to move for 50 or 60 that are expensive.'

Oh and plucky Dortmund, they were such salty fcks when we bought Mkhitaryan:



They can't keep their players, they have a complex about it.

 

[Suedesi]

They have one of the top goalkeepers in the world, one of the top 5 CB partnerships in the world, a top 5 left back in the world, the best or second best defensive mid, options in midfield like Rakitic, Iniesta, Sergi Roberto, André Gomes, etc and then Messi and the best striker in the world ahead of him. They now actually have a right back too and a manager who will be getting the best out of their players which Luis Enrique wasn't doing. They'll be fine even if they don't sign anyone which of course it isn't going to happen. People who think they'll decline will be surprised, even last season with all their problems they fought for the title until the last game

Exactly, wouldn't be surprised if they smack RM over the Super Coppa.

 

[ti vu]

Barca getting shafted on Dembele sets a precedent which sooner or later will come to bite us. Mourinho was absolutely right when he said (paraphrasing here) 'Neymar is not expensive, it's the other 30m players who are going to move for 50 or 60 that are expensive.'

Oh and plucky Dortmund, they were such salty fcks when we bought Mkhitaryan:



They can't keep their players, they have a complex about it.

Dortmund having complex doesn't make that their stance now is wrong. Last summer, they had quality replacement for Micki lined up. They know the next summer, they would lose Mickhi for nothing.

Here very likely replacing Dembele was not in their plan. Dembele value unlikely to drop next summer, even the possibility of increasing value is not low. The Mourinho's quote can be more deep, that players' price may not even peak. That's the answer to your another point of your previous post about what difference between 100m & 130mil. Dortmund is trying to take into account the possibility they may undervalue their sale as there is no indication that clubs would stop paying silly money in near future. In short Dortmund is not pressured to sell. They can be greedy since the circumstance plays into their hand.

Not selling Dembele now they have little to lose, while selling him now without taking into account all the risk: replacement, hike in transfer fee, squad quality to push for their own ambition... they may end up losing more

 

[Suedesi]

Its not blind hate. Its your club's history of using shady tactics to get your deal done at the price you want.

Your club, your players and your allies and fans in the media have a long history of pulling out every dirty trick to try to unsettle and tap up players to force clubs to sell to you for the price you want to pay. Long before your unscrupulous behavior with Cesc, I remember back in 2000-2005 every summer there would always be unsourced stories out of Spain about Henry wanting to come to Barcelona (which was total BS at the time). Every summer since Henry's breakout year your club and its allies were trying to unsettle Henry put pressure on us to sell. Fortunately Henry had no interest in Barca at the time(01-04) and Wenger had the balls to tell Barca to go do one.
This whole Dembele saga just smells of entitled Barcelona bending the rules, unsettling a player and then whining about how unfair the world is they can't get what they want, when they want for the price they want.

It's so funny how salty Arsenal fans are over Cesc tapping, when they plucked him from the academy as a 16-yr old merely because in Spain you can't (or couldn't at the time) sign a professional contract.

Wenger didn't discover Cesc, Wenger just arbitraged Barcelona over a highly rated prospect by waving lots of cash in the teenager's face. Barcelona in turn offered the opportunity to play with Messi and win lots of medals in Cesc's face and fair fecks to them to get their Masia player back.

Real were much fecking worse courting Ronaldo by the way, with the newspapers for 2 years, but we've moved on. Arsenal fans are still pissed over Cesc, even tho they refused to buy him back. Weirdos.

 

[ti vu]

It's so funny how salty Arsenal fans are over Cesc tapping, when they plucked him from the academy as a 16-yr old merely because in Spain you can't (or couldn't at the time) sign a professional contract.

Wenger didn't discover Cesc, he just arbitraged Barcelona (same way we signed Pique) over a highly rated prospoect by waving lots of cash in his face. Barcelona in turn waived the opportunity to play with Messi and win lots of medals in Cesc's face and fair fecks to them to get their Masia player back.

Real were much fecking worse courting Ronaldo by the way, but we've moved on. Arsenal fans are still pissed over Cesc, even tho they had the chance to sign him back. Weirdos.

Pique, Cesc, Alba... were in period where Barcelona mismanaged which gave way for their academy players to leave. Look at Busquets, he took a while until he broke through into the first team. Cesc, Pique made progress to first team quicker, so if money was the sole reason, I agree to disagree.

 

[Suedesi]

That is easier said than done. Young player can be inconsistent, even Dembele is. Pulisic is not where near guarantee to return that kind of expectation. Buying in August with clubs knowing Dortmund is desperate & has money would be quite tough. See Barcelona. They have double the previous transfer record fee yet, likely to break previous transfer fee for more of potential player.


Didn't you learn from Verratti case? You have a contract. If you're that specific about moving to Barcelona then asked for including a certain escape clause; or it's in the clubs hand to see how it fits.

No clubs would like to be disrespected that way. They may want to sell, but they don't want to get bullied. It's not like Dembele would eventually lack suitors for similar price in the future.

Clubs are businesses, respect has nothing to do with it. Watzke and co are not a bunch a thugs sitting on a corner bodega asking for respect when Barto crosses the street.

As a business, Dortmund took a raw product for 15m and after a year they're asking for 115m markup? They want a 750% return? It's ridiculous. Not even Colombians charge that much of a markup for their product.

 

[ti vu]

Clubs are businesses, respect has nothing to do with it. Watzke and co are not a bunch a thugs sitting on a corner bodega asking for respect when Barto crosses the street.

As a business, Dortmund took a raw product for 15m and after a year they're asking for 115m markup? They want a 750% return? It's ridiculous. Not even Colombians charge that much of a markup for their product.

Then you never heard about PSG sold Ronaldinho to Barcelona for less because Keyon disrespected by last minute renegotiate the initial agreed fee.

Sure, if it's offloading an unwanted player who noone else wants, then shrewd businessmen would bow down to any demand. A hot prospect in this market. Dortmund can always wait and sell for other clubs.

Pogba joined Juventus for free. Let that sink in. You buy you pay.

 

[Suedesi]

Pique, Cesc, Alba... were in period where Barcelona mismanaged which gave way for their academy players to leave. Look at Busquets, he took a while until he broke through into the first team. Cesc, Pique made progress to first team quicker, so if money was the sole reason, I agree to disagree.

Pique and Cesc were offered professional contracts in England at a time when they couldn't sign one in Spain. You can sign one at 16 in England, but need to be 18 in Spain.

That was the whole arb.

 

[ti vu]

Pique and Cesc were offered professional contracts in England at a time when they couldn't sign one in Spain. You can sign one at 16 in England, but need to be 18 in Spain.

That was the whole arb.

Doesn't prevent them to play first team football at Barcelona... They clearly didn't see their future there at that time which they quickly fulfilled at Arsenal & United with first team experience soon afterward. Barcelona during that period didn't promote youth as much, that is the point.

 

[Suedesi]

Then you never heard about PSG sold Ronaldinho to Barcelona for less because Keyon disrespected by last minute renegotiate the initial agreed fee.

Sure, if it's offloading an unwanted player who noone else wants, then shrewd businessmen would bow down to any demand. A hot prospect in this market. Dortmund can always wait and sell for other clubs.

Pogba joined Juventus for free. Let that sink in. You buy you pay.

If Kenyon was a shady feck to PSG, they were within their rights to take the next best offer. Businesses like certainty, so if you're dealing with someone that starts moving the goalposts before the ink is even dry you'd better walk away. A bird in hand is better than two in the bushes and all that...

Also Ronaldinho is quoted as saying that he'd prefer to play at Barcelona over Manchester, so that could have been a factor as well.

Pogba didn't join Juve for free btw.

 

[Suedesi]

Doesn't prevent them to play first team football at Barcelona... They clearly didn't see their future there at that time which they quickly fulfilled at Arsenal & United with first team experience soon afterward. Barcelona during that period didn't promote youth as much, that is the point.

As a 16-yr old player would you make $500 a month at Barca or $30k* a week at Arsenal? That's the difference. Arsene waived the cash

*Numbers could be off, but you get the gist.

 

[ti vu]

If Kenyon was a shady feck to PSG, they were within their rights to take the next best offer. Businesses like certainty, so if you're dealing with someone that starts moving the goalposts before the ink is even dry you'd better walk away. A bird in hand is better than two in the bushes and all that...

Also Ronaldinho is quoted as saying that he'd prefer to play at Barcelona over Manchester, so that could have been a factor as well.

Pogba didn't join Juve for free btw.

But Ronaldinho also agreed personal terms with us & with PSG initially only agreed to sell at the agreed price. Barcelona was no option if it was not for the disrespect. Kenyon's reoffer was still better than Barcelona's as I stated PSG sold cheaper to Barcelona.

Sure. Some educational fee which is for nothing & sign on fee which Dortmund as other posters said also paid like 10mil for Dembele... So with all this nitpicking, what is your point again? Selling club has to sell at buying club's demand? That's new.

 

[ti vu]

As a 16-yr old player would you make $500 a month at Barca or $30k* a week at Arsenal? That's the difference. Arsene waived the cash

*Numbers could be off, but you get the gist.

One who is seen as first team which earns the rightful wage vs one who even if being first team (seeing Busquet point) would not find chance until a policy change. It's not like those 2 players getting earn the wage while not seeing a single minute with first team the next 2 years.

 

[Adnan]

If Kenyon was a shady feck to PSG, they were within their rights to take the next best offer. Businesses like certainty, so if you're dealing with someone that starts moving the goalposts before the ink is even dry you'd better walk away. A bird in hand is better than two in the bushes and all that...

Also Ronaldinho is quoted as saying that he'd prefer to play at Barcelona over Manchester, so that could have been a factor as well.

Pogba didn't join Juve for free btw.

Ronaldinho favoured Barca due to his friendship with Sandro Rosell according to the man himself.

 

[ti vu]

Ronaldinho favoured Barca due to his friendship with Sandro Rosell according to the man himself.

Did you read?

Ronaldinho still agreed personal term with us (here United). So let say Kenyon didn't do what he did. Ronaldinho would be happy enough to join us despite favoring Barcelona...

 

[Suedesi]

But Ronaldinho also agreed personal terms with us & with PSG initially only agreed to sell at the agreed price. Barcelona was no option if it was not for the disrespect. Kenyon's reoffer was still better than Barcelona's as I stated PSG sold cheaper to Barcelona.

Sure. Some educational fee which is for nothing & sign on fee which Dortmund as other posters said also paid like 10mil for Dembele... So with all this nitpicking, what is your point again? Selling club has to sell at buying club's demand? That's new.

I'm not talkin about educational fee. Mino Raiola offered Pogba to several clubs, including Inter - Moratti declined citing a gentleman's agreement with United not to poach each other's players.

In addition to the 20% sell on fee that Mino Raiola negotiated for himself, I'm highly suspicious that bungs were offered to the player and agent to make him join Juve.

 

[ti vu]

I'm not talkin about educational fee. Mino Raiola offered Pogba to a several clubs, including Inter - Moratti declined saying we a gentleman's agreement not to poach each other's players.

In addition to the 20% sell on fee that Mino Raiola negotiated for himself, I'm highly suspicious that bungs were offered to the player and agent to make him join Juve.

As I pointed out what other posters said. Dortmund already paid Rennes, yet Dembele also got some cut from Dortmund too. It's transfer. It's not always clear cut, nothing else involved which you seems to imply with your 15mil fee for Dembele, yet being nitpicking on Pogba case.

 

[Adnan]

Did you read?

Ronaldinho still agreed personal term with us (here United). So let say Kenyon didn't do what he did. Ronaldinho would be happy enough to join us despite favoring Barcelona...

Yes I read them quotes

Ronaldinho would've played for us had Kenyon not upset the PSG President Francis Graille.

 

[Suedesi]

Regardless, I sympathize with Barcelona here. Absent Neymar deal, they've offered a world record breaking deal for a young, largely unproven player who hasn't won anything and Watzke and co are acting like a vulture hedge fund trying to maximize the pound of flesh they extract.

If Dembele is so crucial to their team, they can put up a NOT FOR SALE sign and close the matter instead of moralizing over their 750% annual return they stand to make from the player.

Finally, Neymar is one thing and Dembele quite another. Neymar is currently the best Brazilian player, the highest scoring is player for their national team, one of the top 5 players in the world, one of the most marketable faces on the planet. The other is Dembele.

No idea how United benefits if the market gets that distorted by shitty deals like Dembele. Inter will point the finger and quote us 85m for Perisic.

 

[roonster09]

Some people really think Sun shines from Barca's ass and all clubs should be bending over to them.

Dembele is Dortmund's player and without any release clause. If they want him so badly they should pay what Dortmund asks. That's how market works.

 

[do.ob]

Regardless, I sympathize with Barcelona here. Absent Neymar deal, they've offered a world record breaking deal for a young, largely unproven player who hasn't won anything and Watzke and co are acting like a vulture hedge fund trying to maximize the pound of flesh they extract.

If Dembele is so crucial to their team, they can put up a NOT FOR SALE sign and close the matter instead of moralizing over their 750% annual return they stand to make from the player.

Finally, Neymar is one thing and Dembele quite another. Neymar is currently the best Brazilian player, the highest scoring is player for their national team, one of the top 5 players in the world, one of the most marketable faces on the planet. The other is Dembele.

No idea how United benefits if the market gets that distorted by shitty deals like Dembele. Inter will point the finger and quote us 85m for Perisic.

So you're another one who is confused by the concept of contracts.. Whatever compensation is fair is for Dortmund to decide, since they hold the rights to the player. They have no obligation to sell. Even if Dembele, like you, had no idea how Dortmund operate when they signed him.

If their demands actually are outrageous then that would basically be a "not for sale sign" and Barca should/would move on to other players. You talk about business: you think any business would lower their asking price because of what they paid for their asset? That's naive to put it mildly.
You call Dortmund thugs, when all they do is sticking to their contracts, while poor Barca have their players call their transfer targets to unsettle them. The irony is strong with you.

 

[roonster09]

So you're another one who is confused by the concept of contracts.. Whatever compensation is fair is for Dortmund to decide, since they hold the rights to the player. They have no obligation to sell. If Dembele, like you, had no idea how Dortmund operate when they signed him, then he and his agents must be morons - and the club doesn't have an obligation to let someone out of a contract because they didn't do basic research before they signed it.
If their demands actually are outrageous then that would basically be a "not for sale sign" and Barca should/would move on to other players. You talk about business: you think any business would lower their asking price because of what they paid for their asset? That's naive to put it mildly.
You call Dortmund thugs, when all they do is sticking to their contracts, while poor Barca have their players call their transfer targets to unsettle them. The irony is strong with you.

Not sure you got the memo, CAF and Barca fans on CAF have decided the fair price and how cnuts Dortmund are by blocking the player's dream move. Reading their posts you would think there is obligation to sell when Barca comes calling and other clubs are the worst piece of work on the planet for wanting to sign Barca players.

 

[fishfingers15]

Not sure you got the memo, CAF and Barca fans on CAF have decided the fair price and how cnuts Dortmund are by blocking the player's dream move. Reading their posts you would think there is obligation to sell when Barca comes calling and other clubs are the worst piece of work on the planet for wanting to sign Barca players.

It's just Barcelona fans and Suedesi, who is a Barcelona fan but also supports United who thinks this way. Many posters have argued with Serghei etc about this

 

[fishfingers15]

Regardless, I sympathize with Barcelona here. Absent Neymar deal, they've offered a world record breaking deal for a young, largely unproven player who hasn't won anything and Watzke and co are acting like a vulture hedge fund trying to maximize the pound of flesh they extract.

If Dembele is so crucial to their team, they can put up a NOT FOR SALE sign and close the matter instead of moralizing over their 750% annual return they stand to make from the player.

Finally, Neymar is one thing and Dembele quite another. Neymar is currently the best Brazilian player, the highest scoring is player for their national team, one of the top 5 players in the world, one of the most marketable faces on the planet. The other is Dembele.

No idea how United benefits if the market gets that distorted by shitty deals like Dembele. Inter will point the finger and quote us 85m for Perisic.

It's actually quite cute how you actually drag United into this as if it's in our interest to have Dortmund lower their asking price

 

[djdhrubs]

The simple issue is that a massive cash injection now won't actually benefit the selling club in any concrete way. They are not building a new stadium, aren't making any major infrastructure changes and can't easily buy anyone this late in the window. They also anticipated having the player for more than just one year.

It makes sense for them not to sell even if it means risking a bad season from the player and accepting a lower offer next summer or in January.

If this bid had come in a few weeks ago it would have made more sense to sell or at least do what Juve did last summer and get a bunch of players in before finalising the sale.

 

[serghei]

Regardless, I sympathize with Barcelona here. Absent Neymar deal, they've offered a world record breaking deal for a young, largely unproven player who hasn't won anything and Watzke and co are acting like a vulture hedge fund trying to maximize the pound of flesh they extract.

If Dembele is so crucial to their team, they can put up a NOT FOR SALE sign and close the matter instead of moralizing over their 750% annual return they stand to make from the player.

Finally, Neymar is one thing and Dembele quite another. Neymar is currently the best Brazilian player, the highest scoring is player for their national team, one of the top 5 players in the world, one of the most marketable faces on the planet. The other is Dembele.

No idea how United benefits if the market gets that distorted by shitty deals like Dembele. Inter will point the finger and quote us 85m for Perisic.

One of the few post that does not start from an anti-Barca agenda straight away. Shows consistent logic on all subjects addressed in my opinion.