In grassroots football we are told that development of players is a key area, the professional game however have a cheque book culture that rewards those who have zero involvement on the development of the player, a slap in the face to grassroots football.
So Pogba is back with huge fanfare and special effects and Man Utd and Mourinho are happy that they “GOT” their man. The exact figures are very difficult to come by however one figure we do no is the 20% agent fee.
This troubles us, we look from an impartial perspective and think how much better that money could of been spent. The reality is Man Utd developed a player via their own academy system and knew he had fantastic potential, instead of developing him further and giving him a chance they chose to open the cheque book and purchase players instead of playing a player they already had on their books.
Pogo rightly or wrongly and most likely with an agent in his ear decided to leave and carve a first team career out for himself at Juventus. Fast forward a few years and hey presto Man utd now break the bank and re-sign him.
Who has benefitted from this? In our opinion the wrong people, an agent who has had zero involvement in his development as a player and Juventus again who have minimal involvement in his development. Man Utd will also benefit through shirt sales, commercial deal and advertisers etc.
Who has lost out you may ask, in our opinion Grassroots football has lost out, Man Utd have paid a huge sum of money to people who have had the least involvement in making Pogba the player he is, the players at academies and wishing Grassroots football have lost out as yet again the cheque book culture has won over the development of players.
On this occasion the player (Pogba) I’m sure will go on to be a Man Utd great but how many Pogba’s didn’t get that chance due to the cheque book culture of the modern game.
How much better could the money of been spent, if it was used developing players and facilities?
Would love your thoughts and opinions.
