Michele Platini’s Valuable Lesson

A ceasefire has been called in the Wenger v Platini war of words said with an overly thick French accent, and an unlikely hero has emerged as the moderator who brokered the deal: Michele Platini’s dad.

The duo had been bickering after Platini took a subtle shot at Arsene’s penchant for signing “prospects” fresh out of diapers - Wenger cheekily rebutted by unleashing his youngest ever lineup in the Carling Cup - amongst other things, catching opinion across Europe like fly paper. But it was Platini’s dad, who happened to be something of Arsene’s mentor at Nancy, who handed his son the decisive dressing down.

”I have been too harsh on Arsene. I have been told off by my father who set him on his way at Nancy.”

”When I talk about business what I am talking about is recruiting players when they are 13 or 14. I can’t stand it.”

His gripe is fair - more than fair, actually - and Wenger is undoubtedly one of the guiltiest parties when it comes to poaching youngsters, a practice common in England because players can sign a pro contract one year earlier than those in the continent. It’s quite legal, unfortunately, but it typically involves questionable ethics, which is what has Platini in such a furor. (Ask most fans and they’ll agree.)

But this seemingly random attack in a public forum was ill-advised, and his pops had to set him straight, which teaches us all an important lesson: You may be the most important person in an arena as large as European football, but you’ve still got to listen to your parents.

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Category: World Football

Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Michele Platini, teenagers, UEFA, World Football, youth player poaching

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