The Gunners' boss seems relaxed in Brazil, but the stark fact is United, Chelsea, City and Liverpool have spent a combined £169m already. Arsene? Nothing
Invariably, Arsene Wenger is mad busy during World Cup summers. He’s just not mad busy buying footballers.
Wenger loves a major tournament and, this time around, few club managers can have captured the spirit quite like Arsene.
Away from pundit duties, he was clearly having a ball during a beach knockabout in Ipanema with Bixente Lizarazu and Christian Karembeu.
Wenger even tried to recreate Robin van Persie's salmon-leap header. Great stuff. His passion for the game has always been infectious.
His passion for purchasing players less so, particularly in World Cup windows.
In the summers of Japan/South Korea 2002, Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010, the Gunners' manager spent a combined £27million, his biggest signing being Laurent Koscielny at £10m.
In those periods, Manchester City laid out £130m, Manchester United £70m, Liverpool £49m and Chelsea £36m.
Wenger, of course, is in prime position to scout the world’s finest talent although Jose Mourinho clearly didn’t feel the need to attend the jamboree.
At a cost of £62m, Mourinho has signed Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa – two proven elite players at a prime age.
Brendan Rodgers did have plans to go out for the final week of the tournament but, regardless, he has already carried out significant business.
The Luis Suarez money is burning a hole in his pocket before it’s even in his pocket. Emre Can’s capture took Rodgers’ expenditure to £39m in this window.
Despite pressing World Cup matters, Louis van Gaal has been able to sanction £56m worth of recruitment.
Manuel Pellegrini has kept a low profile, but has still managed a cheeky £12m buy in the shape of Fernando.
Wenger? Nothing.
No comments:
Post a Comment