The Argentine genius turns 55 on Friday, but what sort of salary and
transfer value would he command had he been born 25 years later? Would
he be on Lionel Messi's level Would
he be on Lionel Messi's level??
"He's worth 10 million and he's called Maradona!"
Even
the song is out of date. It was the brainchild of Boca Juniors fans in
1981, when Maradona came to the club from Argentinos. $10 million at
that time was an unimaginable fortune, paid with a hurried loan that
included money up front, cheques that bounced and six Boca players as
part of the deal. Eight years before, in 1973, Johann Cruyff had cost
Barcelona just half a million, and in the same year as Diego's move
River landed Mario Kempes, a World Cup winner, from Valencia for $4m.
What
was the difference? With 166 games and 116 goals for Argentinos, the
No. 10 had shown unworldly talents and looked set to become the best
player on the planet over the next decade.
Those were days when
clubs looked at transfers as purely sporting investments. Publicity,
shirt sales and image rights did not come into the equation. Boca's
directors knew it: buying Maradona would practically secure a title in
pretty lean times, as the side had reached a plateau after their great
success in the 1970s.
They received an instant response. The
$10m was money well spent, as Boca took the title in the Metropolitano
81, one of the most acclaimed campaigns in Argentine history. Maradona
could do no wrong, alongside forward partner Miguel Brindisi. He scored
26 goals in 40 games for the Xeneize, including an unforgettable strike
to beat Pato Fillol in a legendary Bombonera Superclasico.
The
market sometimes works on logic. It played a big part in Maradona's move
to Barcelona, since he had already been marked out as a player who
could make the difference not just in a small club, but also in a giant.
He took on the responsibility of being a champion, and received his
reward. That is why the Spanish club shelled out $20m for the Argentine,
double Boca's outlay.
It would be reasonable to assume that
when a club is faced with a player like Maradona, they will do whatever
it takes to keep him happy, as Barcelona have done so well with Lionel
Messi. But those were times in which the world did not see Diego as the
player he would one day become. In 1984 Napoli swooped to sign him for
$5.3m, and would soon enjoy his golden years. Even now, more than 30
years after his arrival in southern Italy, Napoli still sell shirts and
flags with the Argentine's imageThe money involved in football has changed beyond recognition. In 1984
Maradona received some $800,000 a year, with another million thrown in
for advertising rights and $400,000 for friendly games. Lionel Messi's
wage, meanwhile, is $25mIs it possible to calculate the values? A specialist consultancy in
football matters, Pluri, released a study in 2012 that claimed Pele was
the most valuable youngster at the age of 20, ahead of Messi, Neymar and
Maradona respectively. At that age, O Rei was already a world champion
(in Sweden 1958), had scored 355 goals and was Santos' big star. He had a
transfer value of €93 million, the report estimated, while Messi, with
two Liga titles, a Champions League and 34 goals at the end of his
teenage years, was worth €68m.
Neymar by the age of 20 had
netted 103 times and won a Copa Libertadores with Santos, and Pluri put
his value at €55m. Maradona rounds off the list of four; he would
cost €40m at today's prices, having scored 119 times, won thSo how much would a club have to spend now to bring Maradona into their
squad in 2015? For a frame of reference, Messi's buy-out clause is set
at €250m. At his peak, between 1981 and 1988, Diego could not be worth a
penny less. Of course Messi has won far more, but with many things in
his favour - a golden generation of team-mates, a brilliant coach in the
shape of Guardiola and a club that has treated him like a favourite
son. On an individual level the former Argentina coach made as much
difference on the field as La Pulga. The two laugh in the face of
predictable play and always leave spectators slack-jawed with
amazement.
Recent media speculation has linked Messi with a move
away, possibly to Manchester City. But it is most likely that he will
never leave the Camp Nou, unless it is for a romantic swansong at
Newell's. Players like Maradona or Messi make their own rules. They
choose where to go - or stay. They choose the places they feel they will
be happiest and they move to achieve it. Even the biggest clubs are
powerless to tie down their most valuable assets. Once they desire a
change of scenery, there is little to stand in their way.
Monetary
speculation only really serves to obscure the magic of these
superstars. Maradona was always priceless. He played where he wanted,
while the clubs moved around figures to create the illusion of deals
that, compared to his genius on the pitch, have ended up mere anecdotes
in the legend's story.
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Title : [READ]Diego Maradona & Lionel Messi ,who is worth highest?
Description : The Argentine genius turns 55 on Friday, but what sort of salary and transfer value would he command had he been born 25 years later? Wou...