Is Football All About Money?

The Money Ball !

Is football all about money? When this thought pips in my mind I feel disappointed. I recall the times when there was pride in playing for a club, lifting a world cup for the country or trophies for the club.Modern day football has changed not only its pace but the mindset. I would just like to mention few recent instances , to begin with Rooney the boy of Manchester United (one of greatest clubs in EPL) declares that he wishes to leave Man Utd. Did he really wanted to leave ? , or just wanted to cash on his reputation. He knew if he is going to leave the club it will definitely hamper the winning prospects this season. He played his cards and two days after declaring that he is not happy ! He was back again with a new contract. I am sure Sir Ferguson didn’t give him a Jaddu Ki Jhappi (Magical Hug) . Albeit I must say he would have been given Lot of Financial Jhappi’s (Hugs) by the club which is in Debt.

The other club I would like to talk about is Real Madrid which I think has just done everything it can to make Football a money game. They perfectly fits the bill of saying “He who pays the piper calls the tune“ In every transfer window they wont miss a slightest of chance to take the rising players from other clubs. Last season alone they splashed an oceanic sum of $255 million to get all the best available players. But sometimes money cant buy you success, that’s why they have not bagged any major laurels in the past one decade.

Karim Benzama is another player that deserves a mention . He was the last signed player by the club. By that time Real had already signed Ronaldo, Alonso, Kaka to name a few and their top striker Higuain was in full swing. What I dont understand is how big players fall in the trap. Its hard to imagine what Benzama would have been thinking while making the decision knowing that it will be really tough to make it to the playing eleven, unless there are some major injuries to other players. And the inevitable happened, he had to wait more than half of season to get a start and to add to his woes, he was not even picked for world cup squad for the country. That was an absolute waste of the talent but I guess some things have to be learned hard way rather then explained.

I am not a die hard critic of Real, they definitely had a great history and pockets but that does not entitles them to spoil the insanity of the game which made them famous and gave the highest stature. There was a time when any budding footballer used to say that I would love to play for Real because its one of greatest clubs but now seems it got changed to “I would love to play for Real because its one of the Richest Clubs” . The quest for passion has finally changed in to quest for money. The definition for Greatness has been over shadowed by commercial world of success.

Manchester City is one club that is in limelight now a days not because of its trophies but because of the cash spendings behind the scenes, following the foot steps of Real in EPL. But didn’t had a better ending then Real. In spite of spending so much money, they could not even finish in a position to qualify for Champions League spot. Some time I wonder if its a gimmick by the clubs to block good players and make other clubs struggle who would have definately done better with inclusion of one such player.

The list is long if I start mentioning each and every instance and I know this it’s not going to shrink as the time passes by but what I hope is the spirit of a player does not starts and ends with the money. We have seen players who have selflessly played and made the history, made the clubs and made people love the game and I hope the coming breed plays with the same passion in their mind and not the big pockets of club.

Looking forward to see more Cantana’s and Messi’s ,spreading the magic with their golden pair of legs on field…