The new superteams

[rurikbird]

This has been coming. Neymar going to PSG started it, Ronaldo to Juve continued the process, but now Messi will top them all. Looks like we're going to see a version of the NBA "Superteam" model in football, where superstar players are allowed to pick their coaches and teammates and band together in super-mega-projects to try to win everything. Only unlike basketball, there is no salary cap. It will be highly symbolic for the greatest player in history to destroy football.

Oh, and if this happens City are going to be the most hated club on the planet.

 

[peekay]

Most hated? Maybe among actual fans. They will gain tons of casual football fans. Messi will provide them with a marketing exposure they never had previously.

 

[keniget]

Most hated? Maybe among actual fans. They will gain tons of casual football fans. Messi will provide them with a marketing exposure they never had previously.

Add Neymar too and they’ll be huuuuuge.

 

[MomoWASright]

Huge fucking cunts.

 

[rurikbird]

Most hated? Maybe among actual fans. They will gain tons of casual football fans. Messi will provide them with a marketing exposure they never had previously.

I don't know, Miami was definitely the most hated in the NBA during the "big 3" era. Actual fans' opinion does colour the perception.

 

[refugee]

Most hated? Maybe among actual fans. They will gain tons of casual football fans. Messi will provide them with a marketing exposure they never had previously.

This.

It will give them instant access to a worldwide fanbase that they've never had before.

 

[Fabio]

It's not happening so let's all calm down

 

[peekay]

I don't know, Miami was definitely the most hated in the NBA during the "big 3" era. Actual fans' opinion does colour the perception.

City has a much higher base profile worldwide than what Miami had before the big three era. They have the resources to capitalize and sustain the exposure which Messi will give them. They will instantly become the number one club among casual fans in Asia if Messi and Neymar join them. The marketing exposure they will get will be a different level.

Also among traditional football fans, outside of fans of clubs which traditionally win trophies - us, United, Chelsea, Bayern, Juve - will anyone else care? If you were a Brighton or Villa fan this does not exactly affect your chance of winning a trophy or competing for the league. In the NBA, at least there is some sense of equity with salary caps and drafts that were distorted by the superteams. Football is a highly inequitable sport in itself.

 

[Athens]

This has been coming. Neymar going to PSG started it, Ronaldo to Juve continued the process, but now Messi will top them all. Looks like we're going to see a version of the NBA "Superteam" model in football, where superstar players are allowed to pick their coaches and teammates and band together in super-mega-projects to try to win everything. Only unlike basketball, there is no salary cap. It will be highly symbolic for the greatest player in history to destroy football.

Oh, and if this happens City are going to be the most hated club on the planet.

This will be great, you'll have super teams competing in a European league then there'll be franchises who'll up sticks and move to different cities...

I hate football.

 

[StevieM]

Well, I suppose City have to get fans from somewhere, since there aren’t enough locally to fill their stadium.

 

[Farkmaster]

Man city buying messi would be something I'd love, if financial fair play was a thing at all. Yeah, get some other old fuck that walks around all game, see how that works out.

 

[Farkmaster]

I don't think the Spanish speaking world is going to start being interested in city just because messi goes there. They will just see it as a retirement of sorts. I watched Gerrard's highlights here and there too.

 

[MomoWASright]

I can’t wait for Robbo to twat him into the advertising boards.

 

[RedStar]

About as likely as Nike giving us the money to buy Mbappe just cos they are sound

 

[rubans]

One of the papers had the deal to city would cost 500m, not sure the break down but his current salary is 90million per season at Barca.

 

[RedStar]

One of the papers had the deal to city would cost 500m, not sure the break down but his current salary is 90million per season at Barca.

Supposedly the deal, if you believe it, is he does 3 years at City and the in 2 years New York for their US franchise which makes somewhat more sense.

 

[Karl Hungus]

Seems to me the super team concept has always been around in football, there is no salary cap or other limit on how much many clubs can throw at players. When is the last time a player made it clear they wanted a transfer and it ultimately did not happen?

 

[RedStar]

FFP was supposed to be European footballs attempt at a relative salary cap rather than an absolute one. Its been exposed as a paper tiger.

City wouldnt be the first super team if this did happen. The Real Madrid of 20 years ago were the obvious forerunners. Not to mention the Suarez Messi Neymar incarnation of Barcelona that was near unstoppable.