No disagreement with the mentioned points/factors at all. As I said, I won't be surprised - not that I expect that to happen. I think there are enough irrational or nonsensical stuffs in football and quite clearly, some players/agents don't think as rationally as fans do.
Not the best of examples but there's the likes of Paulinho going to CSL and despite the supposedly lower level of football he's plying his trade in, still managed to get into the Brazilian squad (Augusto is another national team player who plays in CSL) and even earned a move to Barcd Oscar concerned over his place in the Brazilian squad when he opted for money over career?
Ultimately, it's the degree/strength of the pull factor(s). Also, between immediate future and something happening in a year's time, isn't the former of more concern and urgency (who's to guarantee a player won't suffer injury which may jeopardise his chance of WC participation)?
Hypothetically speaking: he refuses to play, come Jan, his valuation depreciate and it will be decision time between selling for a lower (but still decent) amount of money or continue freezing him out of the team (but until when?). If he gets sold then, he would still have half a season left, without suffering burnout from the hectic yr end schedules too).
Btw, Suarez's situation was different too, wasn't it? When we got into the situation of asking him to stay on for a further year, the only official bid was Arsenal's while there were numerous top sides sniffing around him.
Meanwhile, there's the likes of Costa and Dembele in similar situation too and little sign of relenting their stance. Just to iterate, not saying he will do it but I just won't be surprised IF that ever happens.
Not the best of examples but there's the likes of Paulinho going to CSL and despite the supposedly lower level of football he's plying his trade in, still managed to get into the Brazilian squad (Augusto is another national team player who plays in CSL) and even earned a move to Barcd Oscar concerned over his place in the Brazilian squad when he opted for money over career?
Ultimately, it's the degree/strength of the pull factor(s). Also, between immediate future and something happening in a year's time, isn't the former of more concern and urgency (who's to guarantee a player won't suffer injury which may jeopardise his chance of WC participation)?
Hypothetically speaking: he refuses to play, come Jan, his valuation depreciate and it will be decision time between selling for a lower (but still decent) amount of money or continue freezing him out of the team (but until when?). If he gets sold then, he would still have half a season left, without suffering burnout from the hectic yr end schedules too).
Btw, Suarez's situation was different too, wasn't it? When we got into the situation of asking him to stay on for a further year, the only official bid was Arsenal's while there were numerous top sides sniffing around him.
Meanwhile, there's the likes of Costa and Dembele in similar situation too and little sign of relenting their stance. Just to iterate, not saying he will do it but I just won't be surprised IF that ever happens.
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