HOW LONG CAN THE FOOTBALL CIRCUS HOLD TOGETHER?
By Mauro Marturano
I have often spoken about the music of the Titanic, pointing out that when the ship is sinking, the musicians are still asked to keep playing.
The European Union, with a euro that is strong—extremely strong—compared with virtually all other currencies, has at most 12 months left from today. In Europe, we have been able to afford to pay players only because the current was in our favor.
Football in Europe will undergo a drastic downsizing following the currency’s inevitable collapse.
Even in England, although they too have a strong currency compared with others, things are not going well. And the financial statements contain truly worrying figures, to put it mildly.
Manchester United is a case in point: it now carries €1 billion in debt, while fielding a depressing team that struggles even to finish among the top four.
In Spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid are also cases in point, indebted up to their necks.
When the music stops playing, these shacks will collapse too.
For now, this circus of failures and, above all, mediocre players also serves to keep the illusion alive.