The money, the numbers have completely lost all meaning at this point. It should be repulsive. Vulgar. Moral beyond the pale. Even if you discount the ethical questions that come with the provenance of the money, the idea of Al Hilal actually paying €1 billion (£861m; $1.1bn) for Kylian Mbappe to play for them for … Read more
In the summer of 2012, European champions Chelsea were in the middle of a busy transfer window, signing Eden Hazard, Oscar and Victor Moses. While promising youngsters Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku had returned to Stamford Bridge after successful loan spells and were hoping to get their chance in the first team. Meanwhile, as … Read more
The real goals of “sportswashes” may not be things that apply to plebes like you and me. If Middle Eastern regimes want to burnish their image by simply buying European football clubs (and maybe soon American sports also clubs) and make them world powers, it has apparently only increased control over how they govern their … Read more