On this whole Neymar fiasco, from a United perspective, do people think there is anything to Jose's words the other day about him not being too expensive? Is this some kind of coded message that United are willing to part with a similar amount of money for a player they feel is worth it?
It was an interesting comment, for sure.
Without reading too much into it, he may have simply been opining that, for various reasons, the very best players in the world are worth paying significant money for. They contribute to on field success and enhance the profile, attractiveness, and marketability of the club, all of which generates more revenue. The drawback, however, is the inflationary impact on the transfer market in general, and the resultant inflated prices which clubs are demanding for players who don't offer the same sort of impact (either on or off the pitch).
Jose is a clever fellow, though, and seems to choose his words quite carefully. Accordingly, it's inviting to read more into his comments. It could be that he was suggesting that United would pay a similar amount of money, if they deemed the player worthy of the investment. I tend to think, however, that his comments may have stemmed from United's unwillingness to do so. There have been stories that Neymar's camp had discussions with United about a move, which obviously failed to materialise. Personally, I do believe that Neymar would have chosen United over PSG, if the financial terms of the deal were on par (although I understand that others may feel differently). Perhaps Jose thinks the deal should have been done, and that United shouldn't pass up the opportunity to sign players of Neymar's quality, regardless of the price.
Yes, United paid a huge amount of money for Pogba, which evidences a willingness to spend big on the right player. The financials of the Neymar deal are on another level altogether, though, and I'm not convinced United would be prepared to pay the price, regardless of the player's quality. I'm not suggesting by any means that they should have made the financial commitment which would have been required to get Neymar - I don't think it's good for the sport, and don't think it would necessarily have been good for the club either. That's likely a discussion for another thread, however.
