The Isak Saga

[miller0863]

I doubt anyone would, human nature and all that. What people say and what they do in the event often bear little resemblance.

However, on this occasion we have made a polite and correct approach, including a British record offer, then backed away unless they give us encouragement to come back in.

Despite what the entire Geordie Nation are spouting, we have done absolutely nothing wrong in this instance, so far at least.

[sydenham red]

Because they can miller - because they can. Do you really believe we would act differently in their completely unique position?

I don’t see it.

They are the Jolene of football clubs.
Don't take my man (player) just because you can.......

[miller0863]

Does that make us Dolly Parton?

[Steveo]

Or maybe it’s all done for spite… ? 🤔

[Steveo]

Does that make us Dolly Parton?

Certainly gonna need to work 9 to 5 to get that striker in before the window shuts…

[sydenham red]

I'll be shocked if it isn't 1 or 2 CBs in next, Newcastle may have agreed the German cb from Milan so guehi is a free run for us if we want it. Downside is Milan and maybe Inter can now go after the Parma kid we also looking at.......

[CCTV]

Well Real take players on a free at the end of their contract so I am missing the point spectacularly I’m afraid

Because they can miller - because they can. Do you really believe we would act differently in their completely unique position?

I don’t see it.

We signed Matip on a free contract.

PSG also really started this signing players on a free contract lark to avoid FFP.

In 21/22 they signed Gini, Messi, Ramos on Donarumma on free contracts.

At that point only Alaba had left Bayern on a free to Real.

Real have copied PSG after the Hazard transfer. Essentially it all comes down to paying wages.

To repeat, cituae never lost a player to real/Barca,
and most likley due to paying bigger wages and large parts of those wages paid off the books. Same as with PSG.

[Steveo]

Technically speaking we got Milner for free from City and Kroos went from Bayern to Real for “a steal” but you are partially correct.

Regardless. Can anyone name a club who would act any different - in Real Madrids unique position - finding themselves unable to continue along the Galactico course…with FFP in “play” and with clubs willing and able to gazump them..?

Also it’s not just about wages. If it was City and PSG would be able to take aspiting players from the top leagues - in their prime as Real have and do. They can’t - certainly not to the same degree. They don’t have that legacy - Nobody does.

Simple stuff

[CCTV]

Toni Kroos signed for Real Madrid in 2014 for a fee of 25 million euros after enjoying seven successful years at Bayern Munich. He had 1 year left on his contract iirc.

Yes Milner was a free signing, as was Matip.

The big free transfers being noticed started with PSG that summer. Since then we've noticed Real employ this strategy too. Real mimicking PSG.

PSG also set wages and release clauses spiralling after they signed neymar for a world record fee.
Whilst Cituae have never lost a star man to Real or Barca.

It seems the appeal of Real & Barca stops with the prestige of playing for PSG & Cituae....

Both PSG & Cituae now known to pay top wages to players, and payments off books part of those wages.

No doubt Real and Barca are top clubs in world football, with real top of the pile. They have appeal but when you look at PSG & Cituae v Real & Barca it is clearly about finances and off book payments.

Cituae have a poor legacy steeped in corruption and cheating, yet even when banned from the CL albeit temporarily none of their star men jumped ship.

[CCTV]

Kroos' agent Volker Struth has now opened up on just how his transfer to Real Madrid transpired.

"In September 2013, Bayern wanted to extend his contract but Toni didn't want to," Struth told Bild.

"They offered him 6m euros per season.

"Did they forget that I knew they were paying Mario Gotze 10m a year?

"We then asked for 10m euros and Pep Guardiola wanted to keep him. 'I need you here', he told Kroos and I assume he told Karl-Heinz Rummenigge the same.

"In November I went to Munich and Rummenigge told me 'Since we appreciate Toni so much, we'll offer 6.5m euros a year'.

"I told him 'We won't accept less than 10m euros' and the conversation was over after 28 minutes.

"After that, Uli Hoeness came onto the scene. After defeating Eintracht 5-0, Hoeness came into the dressing room and shouted at Toni, saying 'Call your agent! You'll never earn 10m euros here'.

"Toni responded 'I don't need to call him, we have the same opinion'.

https://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid/2021/10/24/6175672522601d602a8b45a9.html

[Steveo]

McManaman ran it down/didn’t renew or couldn’t agree - ditto Owen and both flew to the Spanish capital… What could it be..? .


It seems someone still doesn’t understand the allure of Real Madrid or they simply refuse to accept it, Which is why there is no point in any conversation here at all

And back to the actual topic I was broaching with miller

Real Madrid do precisely what ANY club in their position would do. The faux outrage is so obviously thinly cloaked in the same jealousy a Saints fan has for Liverpool FC.

[Steveo]

Not suggesting I feel any different - just recognising the fact that our loathing of Real has as much to do with envy as it does with any higher morality between the clubs. We try to do to smaller clubs what Real has done to us - the fact that we aren’t as successful at doing so only adding to the frustration

[CCTV]

I pointed out that up v PSG & Cituae, the allure of Real & Barca has little weight. And proposed it is largely wages/finances.

I've pointed to both PSG & Cituae paying big wages, and wages off books. Allowing them to pay even more than Real & Barca...

That such transfers are largely about wages.

I've given Toni Kroos's agent discussing the figures involved in terms of wages that saw him leave Bayern.
As per the link originally leaving for United under Moyes, and later signing for Real after Moyes was sacked with Real interest emerging thereafter.

The allure for Kroos was bigger wages as per his agent.
He was willing to leave a CL winning side then managed by Guardiola for a yanited side with Moyes at the helm.

[darrenpotter]

Hes coming lads stay strong....fast eddie needs his sale to be able to walk away next summer after tuchel falls assunder at the world cup

[Kev0909]

Though Newcastle are remaining firm so far over the future of Alexander Isak, fresh reports this morning say the striker has "no wish to reintegrate".

The Athletic reports that Isak is adamant he will not play for Newcastle again and retains a desire to join Liverpool.

David Ornstein claims that even if the transfer window closes without him leaving, Isak views his Newcastle career as over and has no wish to reintegrate.