Two articles headlined the BBC football website ‘gossip’ column this morning. Like so many others I watch this feed intently, hoping beyond hope that Man United have managed to convince Messi to end his career at Old Trafford.
This morning’s headlines, for me, sum up the premiership now, and for years to come.
Manchester United will apparently bid for Jordan Pickford of Everton if David de Gea refuses to commit to another contract.
And Manchester City have beaten Barcelona to the signature of Frenkie de Jong, the greatest talent to emerge from Holland since Patrick Kluivert or Marco Van Basten. City hope he’s the best since since Johan Cruyff. Maybe they’re right.
Manchester United weren’t even mentioned in the de Jong story. Barcelona thought they had the inside running on another wunderkid who dreamed of the Nou Camp. They saw him as a natural successor to Sergio Busquets. He idolises Messi. But he chose City.
Why?
Pep Guardiola. The attacking football City play. The year in, year out guarantee of Champions League football. The sheer class of everything City. How could de Jong resist?
Pep Guardiola of Man City. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Juventus were mentioned as perhaps the only team who could gazump City. The prospect of becoming part of the evolving galacticos of the Old Lady might be enough to sway de Jong. But he’s not headed to United.
United have somehow held on to de Gea for all this time. He has never had the support of a world-class defence. Peter Schmeichel and Edwin Van de Sar before him rightly became United legends with their feats of goal-keeping brilliance, but they always had the support of the likes of Jaap Stam, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Dennis Irwin.
De Gea, like all Spanish players, must have grown up dreaming that his legacy would be measured largely by his contribution to the legend of Barcelona, or Real.
Yet he has remained loyal to United and he needs to be acknowledged for that. Maybe that is about to come to an end.
And for all the quality of Pickford, if de Gea departs and United’s defence is built around the young English keeper, rather than perhaps the world’s best, where does that leave United?
Right where Liverpool found themselves before Klopp I reckon. In that no-man’s-land where good quality English players, and mid range Europeans, consider signing up. Where United slip down the pecking order of the BBC gossip site, so that the ‘stars’ United are linked with are tossing up between Valencia, West Brom…. and United. And meanwhile the next de Jong, and the Neymars, and the Kanes, circulate between the real heavyweights, Bayern, Real, Juve, Barca…. and City.
United took decades to work out how to evolve beyond Matt Busby. Liverpool seemed to do the same getting beyond Paisley.
Klopp is beginning to change that for the ‘Pool. Is Mourinho capable of that for United? David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal. United have underachieved.
If it goes on long enough it becomes self fulfilling, and Manchester will turn blue for decades to come.
Freddie
Guest
So, you want UEFA to apply the principles of "fair play?" What's fair about a system that reinforces all the old cartel clubs by continually giving them financial advantage, and denying any prospect of other aspiring clubs competing? If UEFA really wanted to be fair, they would distribute Champions League money to national associations to spread the wealth further down the pyramid. But they won't do that, because the former G14 clubs would leave to create the Super League (which they are threatening anyway). Fair play is anything but. It's an attempt by the big clubs of Europe to maintain the status quo. If they try to enforce it, legal action will overturn it. You cannot stop wealthy owners investing in their own business, it's anti-competitive.
Freddie
Guest
Plus, it's Emirati money, not Saudi.
Freddie
Guest
No history huh? Champions in 1937, 1968, FA Cup winners four times, League Cup winners twice, European Cup Winners Cup winners 1970. The club of Frank Swift, Bert Trautmann, Billy Meredith, Matt Busby, Don Revie, Colin Bell, Franny Lee, Mike Summerbee, Joe Mercer, Dennis Tueart, Joe Corrigan etc etc. Sure they didn't have the success United had (although people forget they went from 1967 to 1993 without winning the title), but few clubs do. To suggest they have "no history" underlines your ignorance of football.
Paul
Guest
I hope UEFA go after them. I listened to a Guardian football weekly pod where their respected journalists say that the only thing that the Manchester City club have in common is the Jersey.
marty beauchamp
Roar Pro
Good point, although that seems to get threatened and then forgotten like a Trump impeachment
Paul
Guest
That is unless UEFA take CFG down over Financial Fair Play.
marty beauchamp
Roar Pro
There's no denying City's access to money, but there have been a lot of clubs spend a lot of money and get no where near the level of dominance they look likely to exert for years yet. Guardiola is pure class, and he must be a magnet for the players as much as the salary offered.
Fadida
Guest
"lazy comment" Jim? Which part isn't true? City were a yo-yo club, well supported in Manchester but of no interest to the rest of the world. Then along came the endless dirty, morally suspect, Saudi money. Do we actually think growing up Pep thought, "I'd love to play/manage Manchester City one day", or that people around the world idolized Shaun Goater, Ian Bishop or Jamie Pollock? Chelsea were at least top 6 before their dirty money kicked them on. City were essentially a Sunderland equivalent. No history to speak of. A laughing stock most of the time, but a club with morals. Tell me which part of that isn't true Jim?
Eden
Roar Rookie
Did you click on this title expecting an uplifting article about grass roots football?
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Jim’s a city fan I’m guessing
Jim
Roar Rookie
Money has dominated football since day 1, too many are willing to pretend it hasn't..... City are just the latest iteration within that process. Its just now you need a shedload more to be able to compete at the top level. Whereas once a couple of million pounds could move you from also runs to title challengers, now its hundreds of millions just to be competitive. Every football club at its core is 'hollow' in some form or another - they are all just a manufactured entity at the end of the day. But one thing in life is for sure - the repeated nature of lazy comments such as this...
Buddy
Roar Rookie
But doesn’t that pretty much sum up the EPL these days. Southgate will do a fantastic job if he can work and develop younger players not totally starstruck by the money, glitz and glamour of the EPL - I’d argue that it is detrimental in many ways to the natural development of uk born players and the building of a strong national side. However, it does appear that the leadership group of the current England side do not have their heads in the clouds although there was something of a glitch in the W.C semi final - lead up and general narrative - they believed their own press - always a dangerous sign.
joseph durrell
Guest
Quality article, i just love it. ctid.
Fadida
Guest
City were a laughing stock for decades. Then they were taken over by an endless supply of dirty money. It's all very hollow