I have watched it, JMW. Even if we're clear of FFP, does it mean we are capable of spending THAT kind of money without failing it again? Potentially £68 million per year on ONE player! We can either sign Messi alone or we could address the weaknesses in our team. I don't see us doing both AND clearing FFP at the same time.
I dont know what Woodward would or could do. What I know is that based on the information that I've come across, including the latest accounts available, only United seem realistic enough to sign Messi if he were available WITHOUT failing FFP.
But like I've said in almost each and every post in this thread, I'd be glad to be proven wrong if it meant we signed Messi!
If you were Messi and wanted to move to the Premier League, and United would be the only ones triggering your release clause and matching your wage demands without risking failure of FFP, would it matter to you if you really wanted to go to United or not?
If you were Messi and wanted to move to the Premier League, and United would be the only ones triggering your release clause and matching your wage demands without risking failure of FFP, would it matter to you if you really wanted to go to United or not?
If we signed Messi the day after we closed the books for last season, we have 12 months to exploit his signing to drive revenues, we'd get huge press, huge sponsorship and make huge money from merchandise etc. He'd cover his costs.
Messi wouldn't give a fuck about FFP.
and UEFA wouldn't ban any team who had Messi in their side.
Would the transfer window be open on that day?
I'm mentioning FFP only in the context of the club that buys him, gets banned from Europe. If that was a possibility, surely he would think about it because he'd miss out on Champions League football.
And as far as UEFA not banning Messi's club is concerned, as far as I know, a "directly affected club" can appeal for stronger action if they find the imposed/ negotiated sanctions "lenient".
Suppose it would,if he didn't want to go there.
transfer window is irrelevant, it's about the 12 month period in which the transfer is recorded in the accounts.
They can appeal all they like, FFP is already going to be laxed, and UEFA would never be so stupid as to ban a club that has Messi from its competition.
Oh well, that would be one way of pulling it off then.
Do we know when is FFP going to be relaxed? No. Do we know to what extent is it going to be relaxed? No. And trusting Platini to do what he does best, he would make sure of there being some sort of condition or the other that would hamstring us from spending in the way we have.
And about being so sure of UEFA not banning Messi's club, dont under estimate the power of fools in large numbers!
The power of fools has already lead to them panicking because their established elite can't get taken over, because they're not attractive propositions without the ability to invest freely.
UEFA have their meeting on June 29/30 where new plans are expected to be drawn up, and the current 18 cases against FFP mean it will have to be changed to something palatable for UEFA to avoid it going away altogether.
Furthermore, they're not able to hamstring us this summer, so in future years it's going to be even more impossible.