new world record ?

[papereyes]

I can only think of Zola that has actually been a success over here.

Vialli
Vieira and Henry, in a slightly more roundabout way.
Carbone and Di Canio weren't *bad* ...

I'm sure there's more.

I think its perhaps a lot to do with culture - Italians prefer to stay in a warmer country with a similar lifestyle - so if they move out of Italy, they're more likely to head to Spain or France.

[boy1985]

I can only think of Zola that has actually been a success over here.

Vialli
Vieira and Henry, in a slightly more roundabout way.
Carbone and Di Canio weren't *bad* ...

I'm sure there's more.

I think its perhaps a lot to do with culture - Italians prefer to stay in a warmer country with a similar lifestyle - so if they move out of Italy, they're more likely to head to Spain or France.

Yeah I thought about Vialli but he came right at the end of his career so was slightly different, good call on Di Canio and Carbone though. Henry hardly played for Juve IRC but they were playing him as a winger.

I think the main reason they under perfom is the time they get on the ball, i know everyone always says that but i think its true. Shevchenko and Veron looked world class until they came over here. It would be interesting to see more english players going over there to see if they can cope with the style of play.

[daswonder]

Yeah I thought about Vialli but he came right at the end of his career so was slightly different, good call on Di Canio and Carbone though. Henry hardly played for Juve IRC but they were playing him as a winger.

I think the main reason they under perfom is the time they get on the ball, i know everyone always says that but i think its true. Shevchenko and Veron looked world class until they came over here. It would be interesting to see more english players going over there to see if they can cope with the style of play.

You mention Italians/Players that have played in Serie A not fairing well in England, how many English players have faired well in Italy over the years.

Not to many I'll tell you.

[papereyes]

Shevchenko's not really done much since he went back, so maybe its something else?

I just had a look back through the old Italy squads and they're overwhelmingly home-based. So I'd imagine their national team plays a similar game to Serie A - they seem to do OK from time to time ...

It would be interesting to see more english players going over there to see if they can cope with the style of play.

Its the one thing that makes me think a bit less of some of the English players - fine, dominate your home league but if you want to show you're genuinely world class, do it somewhere else. I'd actually like to see what would happen to, say, Gerrard in Spain or Lampard and Terry in the Italian league.

But English players don't tend to move well to Mediterranean countries.

how many English players have faired well in Italy over the years.

Not many have gone.

List here

[daswonder]

Thats the thing there is so many money involved in the premier league now that home based players won't leave, it was the same for Serie A in the 90s that as it had the money people would flock there. Whereas in La Liga it has some money but the tax situation is easier so the outlay isnt as much.

As for the Italian national team up until Lippi took over first time around, if you werent home based you were considered which also put alot of Italians off moves abroad.

[boy1985]

Its not even down to the players themselves, English players cost a bomb. Unless you are talking Rooney, Gerrard and Lampard no-one will pay the money. Who in Europe would pay a premium price for Defoe, Downing and Bent?

[Rex]

I should really think that on that kind of money if Kaka doesn't like living in this country he can afford to commute to work from anywhere he chooses!.

[Mr Angry]

I hope that Kaka is a fantastic defender, cos at the moment, Man City need a defence far more than they need another midfielder.

If Kaka does go to Man City, he won't be able to say that he moved there for any other reason than the money, and the deal is, of course, utter madness, not least for Man City. Why? Because the team of ANY player they go for is going to demand stupid stupid money before letting them go. I'm sure that West Ham's owners see the sale of Bellamy for £25M as a way of helping pay off their debts.

[boy1985]

The only way they can justify this making 'Business Sense' is by it being the most expense statement od intent in history. They would be better off bidding 50 mil for Ramos. Also if Kaka turns them down they will look even more pathetic than do already. 107mil and 500k a week and they still can't convince a player to sign.

[rabidbee]

Anyone offered £26m a year would have to be mad not to take the contract, no matter how bad the club.

[boy1985]

Anyone offered £26m a year would have to be mad not to take the contract, no matter how bad the club.

Exactly so what will that make Man City look like when he turns them down. They will have to bid 200mil for Messi to try and get some dignity back...

[Rex]

Anyone offered £26m a year would have to be mad not to take the contract, no matter how bad the club.

The playboy management of a football club could saddle and destroy a club long term. This cvould be a worrying time for Man C. Also what is the lengh of the contract being offered and is there a sell on clause

[Rex]

Anyone offered £26m a year would have to be mad not to take the contract, no matter how bad the club.

The playboy management of a football club could saddle and destroy a club long term. This could be a worrying time for Man C. Also what is the lengh of the contract being offered and is there a sell on clause

[rabidbee]

Yes, I'd be incredibly worried if I were a Blue. But not of them are - they're already complaining that they're not top 4, and that Hughes is useless. None of them cared how Thaksin had got his money either. They deserve what they get.

[soggy biscuit]

Anyone offered £26m a year would have to be mad not to take the contract, no matter how bad the club.

A man who reportedly already earns over £15m a year (including sponsorship) could turn it down. What can you do with £26M that you can't with £15M? (except give even more to a corrupt church in Brazil)

[TheMaraudingDog]

What can you do with £26M that you can't with £15M?

I always LOL @ people who use this argument when going on about footballers wages. While I think their wages are too high there is still plenty that you can do with £26m a year compared to £15m a year. It all depends what you want to do with your money of course but do you think Richard Branson for example would accept £100m for Virgin Media when someone else is offering £150m? (figures used hypothetically of course but you get my drift).

Kaka may have a long term plan to own his own football club / property firm / anything else and if you want to go this way every penny helps. Even if the money is just used for leisure the extra would mean that you could afford a super yacht, if that was what you were into.

[Dirk Gently]

That's true, but for a lot of today's footballers - and especially the English ones - the actual amount they earn isn't particularly important.

What is important to them is that the figure they earn is slightly more than other players earn - it's all about the pecking order of who is worth more than who, rather than the actual numbers.

[readingfc13]

What can you do with £26M that you can't with £15M?

I always LOL @ people who use this argument when going on about footballers wages. While I think their wages are too high there is still plenty that you can do with £26m a year compared to £15m a year. It all depends what you want to do with your money of course but do you think Richard Branson for example would accept £100m for Virgin Media when someone else is offering £150m? (figures used hypothetically of course but you get my drift).

Kaka may have a long term plan to own his own football club / property firm / anything else and if you want to go this way every penny helps. Even if the money is just used for leisure the extra would mean that you could afford a super yacht, if that was what you were into.

Isn't he a devout Christian and already gives a lot of money to the church?

[TheMaraudingDog]

Kaka may have a long term plan to own his own football club / property firm / anything else and if you want to go this way every penny helps. Even if the money is just used for leisure the extra would mean that you could afford a super yacht, if that was what you were into.

Isn't he a devout Christian and already gives a lot of money to the church?[/quote]

I don’t really know but it’s irrelevant. The point I’m making is where do you draw the line at “what difference does this salary increase make?”

If you were on £9k a year and got offered £15k you’d move. £90k to £150k you’d move and so on. Where do you draw the line? When Richard Branson was worth £100m do you think he thought “ah, no point in carrying on now really”? Of course he didn’t, he wanted to invest and make more.

None of us live in a world where we earn what the footballers do so we can’t comprehend what you would do with all that cash, but as I demonstrated the extra few millions could afford a super yacht complete with full time staff for you to cruise around the sun when and where you wish.

[rabidbee]

Of course, you have to remember that £500K is only about €12 these days, isn't it?