Discussion
For anyone that didn't know, Hulk just moved to Zenit in Russia for £50m from Porto.
Chelsea wanted him, apparently lots of European giants have wanted him over the last 12 months so surely it was just a matter of time before one of them moved in?
I think he has ruined his career by moving to Russia. Clearly motivated by money as we all know Russian clubs pay incredible wages!!
I'm a little gutted he didn't come to the PL to be honest... Anyone else?
Chelsea wanted him, apparently lots of European giants have wanted him over the last 12 months so surely it was just a matter of time before one of them moved in?
I think he has ruined his career by moving to Russia. Clearly motivated by money as we all know Russian clubs pay incredible wages!!
I'm a little gutted he didn't come to the PL to be honest... Anyone else?
I read it the fee was £39.5M.
Zenit are the only club that were willing to meet Porto's riduculous (IMO) demands for the player. He is an awesome winger, but £40M for him seemed a bit steep. I thought Chelsea were going to sign him and that would have been great for their team. Imagine a starting line up like this:
GK - Cech
RB- Ivanovic CB- Cahill CB- Terry LB- Cole
CM- Lampard CM- Mikel
RW- Hulk AM- Mata LW- Hazard
Striker- Torres
That attack looks ferocious. He could have also played as the lone striker, giving competition to Torres and to replace him if he gets an injury.
Basically, would have loved to see him in the Prem and he would have suited Chelsea.
Zenit are the only club that were willing to meet Porto's riduculous (IMO) demands for the player. He is an awesome winger, but £40M for him seemed a bit steep. I thought Chelsea were going to sign him and that would have been great for their team. Imagine a starting line up like this:
GK - Cech
RB- Ivanovic CB- Cahill CB- Terry LB- Cole
CM- Lampard CM- Mikel
RW- Hulk AM- Mata LW- Hazard
Striker- Torres
That attack looks ferocious. He could have also played as the lone striker, giving competition to Torres and to replace him if he gets an injury.
Basically, would have loved to see him in the Prem and he would have suited Chelsea.
Donatello said:
I'm a little gutted he didn't come to the PL to be honest... Anyone else?
Me too. Seems maybe the Premier league doesn't quite have the draw it used to. Perhaps when he realises he'll have to play when its -15, he'll want to move on in a season or 2.Maybe Chelsea and/or City may go after Falcao. Another who I'd like to see in the Prem. Such a natural and instictive finisher.
Zenit are owned by Russia's domestic gas provider who made £45 billion last year. I think they are technically government owned but alot of Russian teams are owned by oil tycoons who have no issues spending hundreds of millions to transform a club.
I've read a lot of different fees quoted this morning but I think you are right with the £39.5m (think I saw 50m euros..) as they signed Axel Witsel from Benfica too for a combined 80m euros.
Surely players realise what Russia is really like? Eto'o has ignored the racism (as has Samba) just because of the money? Really? That is shallow!
I think currently Falcao and RVP are the best strikers in the world, would love to see Falcao in the premier league, he would go perfectly with Grant Holt in the Norwich team!! (... I f
king wish!)
I've read a lot of different fees quoted this morning but I think you are right with the £39.5m (think I saw 50m euros..) as they signed Axel Witsel from Benfica too for a combined 80m euros.
Surely players realise what Russia is really like? Eto'o has ignored the racism (as has Samba) just because of the money? Really? That is shallow!
I think currently Falcao and RVP are the best strikers in the world, would love to see Falcao in the premier league, he would go perfectly with Grant Holt in the Norwich team!! (... I f
king wish!)andyjo1982 said:
Me too. Seems maybe the Premier league doesn't quite have the draw it used to.
no, the premier league teams are hedging their bets that FFP is enforced. the russians don't seem to give a flying fiddlydee about it. having watched him play against city last year, he certainly wasn't worth the fee and wages he'll be on in russia.
the one that will interest the big money clubs is ronaldo. he's one of the only players in the world who can cover a silly fee and wages due to the commercial boost he takes with him.
Edited by tamore on Tuesday 4th September 09:56
Edited by tamore on Tuesday 4th September 09:57
Strange decision for him, I'm sure he could have went there as his next move after say 4 years somewhere else.With regards FFP...
Clubs are not going to struggle to bypass it. QPR for example are owned by a man who can use his own company to sponsor them and pay a silly figure. They already have the sponsorship in place and if he wanted to splash more cash, he could just sponsor a stand or something ridiculous like that.
I get a feeling we will see a few 'partnerships' started in the near future. I know Chelsea have links with CSKA Moscow because of Roman, but I get the feeling lots of clubs will start partnerships and find ways around FFP with sponsorship deals.
Anzhi are a joke of a club. Why anyone would choose to play for them for any reason other than money is beyond me... The Russian league in general is a strange choice for players like Witsel and Hulk (and many others!).
Clubs are not going to struggle to bypass it. QPR for example are owned by a man who can use his own company to sponsor them and pay a silly figure. They already have the sponsorship in place and if he wanted to splash more cash, he could just sponsor a stand or something ridiculous like that.
I get a feeling we will see a few 'partnerships' started in the near future. I know Chelsea have links with CSKA Moscow because of Roman, but I get the feeling lots of clubs will start partnerships and find ways around FFP with sponsorship deals.
Anzhi are a joke of a club. Why anyone would choose to play for them for any reason other than money is beyond me... The Russian league in general is a strange choice for players like Witsel and Hulk (and many others!).
Another note on the racism in Russian football..
I think both Hulk and Witsel should be a little ashamed of themselves. They had a chance to say 'No, I stand by the 'Kick Racism Out of Football' campaigns and won't sign for a racist club.'.
Zenit wouldn't allow Dick Advocaat to sign any black players when he was manager, 'the fans wouldn't allow it'... They simply shouldn't be allowed to play in European competitions if they take that stance.
I think both Hulk and Witsel should be a little ashamed of themselves. They had a chance to say 'No, I stand by the 'Kick Racism Out of Football' campaigns and won't sign for a racist club.'.
Zenit wouldn't allow Dick Advocaat to sign any black players when he was manager, 'the fans wouldn't allow it'... They simply shouldn't be allowed to play in European competitions if they take that stance.
ascayman said:
chelsea fans accusing players of being mercenary because they sign for other clubs just for the money.
the irony.
But to be fair any player going to Chelsea will play in a hugely popular league and win major trophies, in addition to the money. They can claim they are going at least partially for footballing reasons, going to Russia you just can't. the irony.
tux said:
I expect he went because it was the only team who made an acceptable offer for him, with Champions League football and id guess he wants a new challenge.
I'm waiting for a player to come out and say "I want to move to a club that is going to give me exposure to the champions league...hahaha just kidding. I want money, bhes...and lots of it."At least it would be honest.
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