West Ham were relegated at the end of season 2003/04. Maybe they could have used that parachute relegation payment to sign Ronaldinho in the summer of 2004.
1 Like
This is checkmate?
2 Likes
At that time Liverpool’s record signing was Djibril Cisse at a cost of 14m. Ronaldinho cost 32m. Some people think that Liverpool could have afforded Ronaldinho back then which is obviously ludicrous unless the likes of Villa, Sours and Sunderland chipped in but I couldn’t see that working to be honest.
Sunderland spent seasons 2003/04 and 2004/05 in the second tier of English soccer. That’s two of the 10 English teams that @Cicero_Dandi has mentioned who could have signed Ronaldinho that weren’t even in the top flight.
Wow, if they’d only splashed the cash and signed Ronaldinho they could have stayed up.
1 Like
That’s shameful for an EPL addict.
1 Like
Why are you saying 2004?
Most PL clubs spent more than Barca in 2005.
PL clubs simply don’t sign the top players at Barca or Real and its not an issue of finances for them. You really need to wrap your head around the fact your beloved EPL will always be second rate.
Can you back your assertion that half of the Premier League (and some Championship teams) could have afforded Ronaldinho when Barcelona paid 32m for him.
Why is it just 2004? Liverpool spent £40m in the summer of 2004.
It would appear that he wasn’t specifically referring to 2004. It’ll always be a black mark against the Charlie Chawke regime that he wasn’t able to persuade Ronaldinho to join Sunderland.
6 Likes
If he could afford to pay €22m on a pub, he could have afforded Ronaldinho.
But who would swap being a top player at Barca for the EPL?
Not many. But some would swap playing for Sunderland for working in a bar in goatstown.
2 Likes
Full list of out of contract pros. Sad to see Stephen Ireland unattached at 32
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/statistik/vertragslosespieler
Attacking midfielder Stephen Ireland has scored 3 league goals in the last 9 years.
Defoe on his way to Rangers apparently
Steven Davis is being heavily linked with a move back too. Celtic will do well to win the league
Gerrard has transformed Rangers. A great time for the brethren
Presumably this assertion that 10 EPL sides could have signed Ronaldinho is going to be substantiated by an audit trail. At the very least I’d expect to see due diligence of the financial statements and accounts for the relevant years and projections in terms of wage demands and income streams as to how it all would have worked for the 10 clubs.
1 Like
The lengthy silence means an exhaustive due diligence is on-going. Posters like @Cicero_Dandi don’t throw out wild assertions based on irrational resentments.
1 Like