Yes of course. But it’s easier said than done. The financial realities do matter and the money ultimately makes the decision. Gabri Veiga will be another one who is currently playing for his boyhood club. He’s on the same team as his idol and has no desire to leave. Celta Vigo want to keep him and he wants to stay, but he’ll probably be in Anfield by the end of the summer. The reality is that Celta needs the money as the fee for Veiga will be significantly more than the club’s entire payroll. Newcastle’s fee for Isak was nearly triple Real Sociedad’s club payroll. The money that Premier League clubs are throwing around makes it impossible for other clubs to say no and players feel like they have to go for the benefit of the club. The players obviously make out fine with the higher wages and often have their heads turned by that I’m heavily biased since I generally just root for La Liga clubs who build through their youth systems- Sociedad, Osasuna, Athletic Club, and so on- but it’s depressing watching EPL clubs just pilfer top talent every transfer window. The margins for these clubs is pretty tight, so they can’t really offer competitive salaries and they can’t say no to huge transfer fees.All he had to do would be say no. They can’t be sold without their permission. (As I’m sure you know)
Obviously Milan is a different beast entirely, but the fact that they’re unable to hold onto a player like Tonali is just another sign of the times, that EPL clubs can just use their financial might to bully even big clubs like Milan, never mind the Celta Vigos and Sassuolos of the world. My comment about Tonali might prove to be wrong because I see his agent is now shooting down the report, but it doesn’t change that it sucks watching players over and over again get snapped up by the Premier League.
Again, I’m probably alone on this, but part of the allure of club soccer has always been the connection to the club by both fans and players, and with the EPL buying up all the top talent, part of that connection is lost. Give me stories like Aspas and Veiga saving their boyhood club from relegation or Lucas Perez paying his own transfer fee and taking a pay cut to go back to his childhood club. Going full Forest and buying 30 new players in a season? That’s not for me, and I think that sucks.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get off my soapbox and go yell at some kids to get off my lawn.