No Financial Crisis Here, Say Real Madrid & Lyon

By: chris | December 23rd, 2008

Coming as a complete surprise to no one, Real Madrid big footed into the auction room, pulled up their pants, puffed out their chest, tilted their sunglasses and bellowed out a bid so large it turned every single head in the room as it won the item on display. Precisely by design, of course. Lass Diarra for €20m is dumbfounding, stupefying and downright idiotic. Kid’s simply not a €20m player. Might not (probably won’t?) even be a first team player, if his latest stint with a big club goes as well as the last two.

All of which Lyon has been following and absorbing intently, with their hopes for global domination also knowing no financial bounds.

Jean-Michel Aulas says they won’t even look at the finances for the next two years as they ~~continue to ruin Ligue 1~~ attempt to become more than just a big fish in a small pond.

“It was decided that our priority was to get closer to the highest European level. We’re going to let the financial results go for this year and the following two years. Our priority will be the sporting side and we will be looking to get up there with the best at all costs.

“We’re going to invest in the winter transfer market. It’s up to (coach) Claude Puel to choose. He has the responsibility of seeing what is the most pertinent choice and the possibility of making investments.”

Considering France isn’t exactly the foremost destination for a player in his prime, spending is the only way to get it done. Really just that simple.

Which brings up two questions:

i. Who can Lyon buy that will both want to play for Lyon and make them a continental powerhouse?
ii. When will Real Madrid buy someone they really need? You know, like…a defender.

Obviously certain clubs, as well as people, will be somewhat immune to the belt tightening, but even some of the world’s biggest spenders are rethinking matters. West London, of all places, for example. The Bank of Abramovich has reportedly been closed for the month of January, and he even underhandedly forced the cancellation of the Channel One Cup, a friendly tournament for teams from the former Soviet republic. Roman took away the prize money (lots and lots of rubles, or some such), and suddenly teams started pulling from the tournament left and right, forcing his cancellation. Big Boss is a relatively bright guy, so he surely saw that 1+1 coming.

Will certainly be interesting to see which clubs are affected more by the financial crisis in January (expect lots of “we’re happy with the players we have”) and those who say fuck it, spending like it’s a Tyco birthday party.