LONDON: Last August, Paris Saint-Germain committed to spending €402million ($418 million) on the transfer fees of two forward Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. In a trio of deals concluded between the last week of August and the first week of January, Barcelona committed to spending €407 million on transfer fees for Ousmane Demeble and Philippe Coutinho plus a signing bonus for Lionel Messi.
In among those five transactions were at least three world records (highest transfers fee for any footballer and a teenage footballer, record signing-on fee), three La Liga records (one record fee out of Spain’s top tier, and two in), and one Premier League record (highest fee in or out of England).
Qatar-owned PSG spent more in a single window than any club ever, yet were working on over another €100m worth of deals for AS Monaco midfielder Fabinho and Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak before Financial Fair Play cooled their enthusiasm. Had Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City not been beaten to the punch on Mbappe and signed the France international themselves they would have retained that single-window high watermark. As it was City inflated the Premier League record for commitments on transfer fees to €282 million — and had a deadline-day deal agreed for Alexis Sanchez that would have extended that summer bill to €350 million.
To put the numbers laid down by Barcelona, PSG and City into context, in the three windows following Jose Mourinho’s appointment as manager Manchester United’s total commitment to transfer fees was ‘just’ €382 million, according to figures published by the CIES Football Observatory. United led Deloitte’s 2017 review of club revenue with record annual earnings of €689 million.
In some ways, Barcelona’s response is the most interesting. Embarrassed, infuriated and unnerved by PSG’s use of a release clause to forcibly extract Neymar from them, Barca’s board reacted in three ways.
First, it lobbied UEFA over FFP, banding with other established clubs to have the governing body warn PSG over state-funded excess. Second, it threw unprecedented sums at a new €35 million net basic salary (and €100m signing bonus) to ensure Lionel Messi did not walk out for one of the Gulf-state clubs. Third, it dived into the transfer market to buy Dembele and Coutinho at prices of €105 million plus €42 million of variables and €120 million plus €40 million respectively.
Dembele is 20 and Coutinho 25, both exciting attacking talents. Yet, many professional analysts argue that Barca have overpaid on both — particularly the young France international who infamously fouled up his official presentation by twice losing control of ball he had been asked to juggle for the cameras.
With Coutinho, Barca twice allowed the fee to balloon to levels they had initially indicated they would not pay. €160 million was a figure Liverpool said they would sell the Brazilian for before the end of the summer window, while asking the Catalans for time to secure a replacement. (Liverpool bid for AS Monaco’s Thomas Lemar, only to be gazumped by a deadline-day offer from Arsenal.)
As recently as December, Barca’s stance was that they were not ready to go above €100 million for Coutinho and had grown tired of Liverpool’s refusal to “negotiate in reasonable terms.” If that was no more than a negotiating stance of their own, the asking price climbed another notch when Nike released an online advertisement stating that “Philippe Coutinho is ready to light up Camp Nou” before the transfer was complete.
Nike sponsors both Barcelona and Coutinho. It is understood that the sportswear wanted another of its cadre of elite footballers to fill the space alongside Adidas-affiliated Messi vacated by Neymar, another Nike ‘name’. There is even a suggestion in the Catalan capital that Nike provided additional funding, via Coutinho, to get the transfer over the line.
Its ramifications ripple on through the system. Last January, the entire Premier League spent £215 million ($291 million) on transfer fees. In the first week of the 2018 window, Liverpool have completed one purchase and one sale worth a combined £216 million. They have agreement from Lemar to join them should Monaco consent to sell the France international for what is expected to be a fee of €90 million. Liverpool are also looking at adding more money to the €65 million already committed to Leipzig to bring forward the transfer of Naby Keita.
Serious money for a ‘stepping stone’ club that is verging on three decades without a League title. Yet in comparison to Barca, PSG and City still decidedly second-tier.
PSG, Barca and Man City highlighting two-tier finances in football
PSG, Barca and Man City highlighting two-tier finances in football
Shahzaib Khan’s brilliant 159 powers Pakistan Under-19 to 43-run victory over India
- Khan’s extraordinary performance anchored Pakistan’s innings, helped them post 281 for 7
- In reply, India were bundled out for 238 in 47.1 overs despite a fighting 67 by Nikhil Kumar
ISLAMABAD: Opener Shahzaib Khan’s scintillating 159 powered Pakistan Under-19 to a 43-run victory over arch-rivals India in a Group A match of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Shahzaib’s knock, spanning 147 balls and featuring five fours and 10 sixes, anchored Pakistan’s innings as they posted 281 for 7 in 50 overs.
India, in reply, were bundled out for 238 in 47.1 overs despite a fighting 67 by Nikhil Kumar.
The Mansehra-born opener shared a 160-run stand with Usman Khan (60 off 94 balls), setting a solid platform. Their partnership came on the back of impressive recent form, with Shahzaib and Usman scoring 330 and 314 runs, respectively, in a tri-series against Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates.
“There was a lot of seam movement, and the fast bowlers were getting good support,” Khan said after the match. “But after spending some time at the crease, when the spinners came on, I focused on dispatching deliveries in my range to the boundary.”
“By God’s grace, it worked out for me today,” he added.
Khan continued to dominate with a 71-run third-wicket stand with Muhammad Riazullah (27). Pakistan accelerated late in the innings, adding 74 runs in the last 10 overs, as captain Saad Baig’s decision to bat first paid off.
India’s Samarth Nagaraj was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-45, while Ayush Mhatre chipped in with 2-30.
India started their chase positively but lost early wickets. Abdul Subhan dismissed Mhatre (20) in the fourth over, while Ali Raza removed Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the next spell, leaving the team reeling at 28 for 2.
Usman Khan and Faham-ul-Haq continued to build pressure, reducing India to 81 for 4.
A 53-run partnership between Nikhil Kumar and Kiran Chormale (20) briefly revived India, but Faham broke the stand by dismissing Chormale.
Kumar’s valiant 77-ball 67 ended when he was caught off Naveed Ahmed Khan at 174, dashing India’s hopes of a recovery.
Ali Raza’s 3-36 led the bowling for Pakistan, with Abdul Subhan (2-45) and Faham-ul-Haq (2-41) providing crucial support.
Pakistan will next face the UAE on December 2 at the same venue.
Team Speedcar Audi makes it 4 as Elite takes crown in Jeddah
- The #3 Team Speedcar Audi had to win if the French duo was to stand a chance of taking the title
- The #78 Elite Motorsport McLaren required a finish of 8th or better secure the crown, ultimately surviving a nervy race to take 5th at the Saudi venue
JEDDAH: French racers Robert Consani and Benjamin Lariche secured a fourth successive GT4 European Series Powered by RAFA Racing Club victory by taking Saturday’s season finale in Jeddah.
However, the win was not enough to stop Tom Lebbon and Josh Rattican from being crowned 2024 Silver class champions, said a media statement.
The #3 Team Speedcar Audi had to win if the French duo was to stand a chance of taking the title and did exactly that thanks to another inch-perfect performance.
The #78 Elite Motorsport McLaren required a finish of eighth or better secure the crown, ultimately surviving a nervy race to take fifth at the Saudi venue.
Meanwhile, NM Racing Team bagged the Pro-Am win, while a third-place result was enough to seal the class crown for Finn Zulauf and Max Kronberg (#30 W&S Motorsport Porsche). Am honors went to Kevin Jimenez and Florent Grizaud (#72 GPA Racing Aston Martin), who triumphed for a second time this term.
Speedcar Audi had qualified on pole, but started fourth on the grid following a penalty for Consani blocking a rival car during qualifying. The Frenchman wasted no time in returning to the front, immediately jumping to third before passing both the pole-sitting #77 Elite Motorsport McLaren and the #17 L’Espace Bienvenue BMW on successive laps.
As the race settled down the #3 Audi established an advantage at the head of the field and remained in control following a full-course yellow and safety car intervention.
Behind, the #17 BMW held on to second ahead of the #77 McLaren, the #62 Academy Motorsport Ford and the #78 McLaren.
The front two remained unchanged after the pit window, while the Ford leapfrogged the #77 for third spot. Now in the hands of Lariche, the Audi stretched its advantage significantly during the second half. Indeed, by the time the checkered flag fell the Frenchman was more than 11 seconds clear of the #17 BMW.
The Team Speedcar crew had done everything they could to snatch the title.
With the Audi disappearing up the road, attention switched to the progress of the #78 McLaren, which was driven by Rattican during the second stint.
He lost a place to the #82 Racing Spirit of Leman Aston Martin of Jamie Day, who also overhauled the #77 McLaren a few laps later. The #78 then passed the sister car, which had been handed a five-second track limits penalty.
Rattican could have cruised to the finish, but instead spent the closing minutes in a close-fought battle for the final spot on the podium, which ultimately went to the #82 Aston Martin after a last-lap pass on the #62 Ford.
There were nervous faces in the Elite garage, but the McLaren squad could breathe a sigh of relief when Rattican crossed the line in fifth to seal the Silver title.
The GT4 European Series Powered by RAFA Racing Club will return on Apr. 11-13 when Circuit Paul Ricard launches another season of multi-class racing.
Motorsport hero Valentino Rossi gives his verdict on Jeddah street circuit
- BMW driver competing in Saudi Arabia for first time says: ‘I really like the atmosphere’
- Rossi chasing victory in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe final round
JEDDAH: After finishing his opening laps on Jeddah Corniche on the first day of the final round of Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe, Italian race car driver and former motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi said that racing at the Jeddah Circuit is both an exciting and challenging experience.
Speaking to reporters at the end of the day, Rossi said that he enjoyed the experience behind the wheel on the fastest street circuit in the world.
“First of all, let me say that this is my first time in Saudi Arabia and I really like the atmosphere. We are really enjoying our stay while competing.
“Regarding the circuit, it is surrounded by walls as it is a street circuit, which makes the race more difficult with 49 cars racing on the circuit at the same time.
The Italian racing legend — known as “The Doctor” because of his clinical dismantling of opponents — said: “My first impression was OK. It is very slippery and you have to go fast between the walls, but in the end we got used to it through the last two days since we arrived.”
He added: “It is well known that street circuits often require extra effort from drivers. The walls are very close to the track.”
The BMW factory driver told Arab News that he is enjoying competing in the GT World Challenge Europe, and hopes to continue with a positive result on the final day on Saturday.
“We really had a good season and our performance is getting better in the hope to bring a successful result Saturday night,” he said.
The seven-time MotoGP world champion retired from MotoGP in 2021, and is currently competing in both the World Endurance Championship and the GT World Challenge Europe for BMW.
Benzema shines as leaders Al-Ittihad thrash Al-Ettifaq
- In his first league appearance after missing the last four games through injury, the French forward had the ball in the net after 27 minutes
JEDDAH: Karim Benzema returned to action in style Saturday as Al-Ittihad won 4-0 at Ettifaq, scoring one and recording two assists to help the leaders stay on top of the Saudi Pro League.
In his first league appearance after missing the last four games through injury, the French forward had the ball in the net after 27 minutes. A beautiful short pass inside the area from N’Golo Kante took out three defenders to leave Benzema to sweep home from close range but VAR ruled that he had been just offside.
The roles were reversed eight minutes later and this time the goal stood. Benzema picked up possession in a crowded situation just outside the area, slipped a little pass to his right for Kante to burst into the box in a central occasion to fire home a low shot.
Eight minutes after the restart, Benzema got his goal. Marek Rodak got down well to save a fierce shot from Steven Bergwijn and there was the French striker to show his goal scoring instinct to pounce upon the rebound to put the ball into an empty net. It was a ninth goal of the season that puts him level with Cristiano Ronaldo in the standings, three behind Al-Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Two more goals came in quick succession midway through the second half. After 66 minutes Houssem Aouar made it three and then Bergwijn added to Ettifaq’s pain four minutes later, running clear of the defence to score after a fine pass from Benzema.
It was harsh on the home team who have now gone nine league games without a win. The pressure was already on head coach Steven Gerrard but the Liverpool legend and his team are now just three points clear of the relegation zone. Next comes a tricky away trip to Al-Khaleej.
Al-Ittihad meanwhile are riding high.
Barcelona lose at home for 1st time this season, falling 2-1 to Las Palmas
- Barcelona had played superbly in the first three months under new coach Hansi Flick
- They have now gone three rounds of La Liga without a win
BARCELONA: Barcelona lost at home for the first time this season when the Spanish league leader were stunned 2-1 by Las Palmas on Saturday.
Barcelona had played superbly in the first three months under new coach Hansi Flick and were flying high after convincing victories over Real Madrid in the domestic competition and Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
They had won all eight home games overall.
But they have now gone three rounds of La Liga without a win. Prior to the loss to Las Palmas, they fell 1-0 at Real Sociedad and drew 2-2 at Celta Vigo.
Madrid, despite their own troubles especially in the Champions League, can now move ahead of Barcelona in the Spanish league. They trail Barcelona by four points with two games more to play.
Sandro Ramirez and Fábio Silva scored for the Canary Islands club on either side of Raphina’s equalizer.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal returned from a right ankle injury that had sidelined with for three weeks as a halftime substitute, but Jasper Cillessen saved his best shot. The Las Palmas goalkeeper also did well to palm a Raphinha free kick over his bar in the final minutes.
