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- Dec 1, 2016
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I would pick Toni Kroos. Value for money, a starter, won all the major trophies.
Would Denis Law fit in that list?For United.
Keane even though it was the British transfer record at the time, he was the catalyst and leader of the treble team.
Cantona, the main reason we finally won the league for the first time in 30 years.
Irwin, cost peanuts and was incredible for years.
Schmeichel, cost peanuts and became the best GK in the world.
Ronaldo, due to how good he became for us and we sold him for a ridiculous profit.
More like buying a Ferrari and ending up with a Bugatti Veyron.Cantona from Leeds is the one which sticks out for me. Unexpected, not a lot of money and incredibly impactful.
Ronaldo to Madrid was a no brainer. Like buying a Ferrari for full price and then marvelling at how fast it is. Yeah, it's a Ferrari and awesome but it was always going to be.
Yeah, quite possibly but I only listed players from the era of most fans on the forum. From a City point of view as well, free transfer and his goal sealed United's relegation from the top flightWould Denis Law fit in that list?
My issue with Ronaldo in that list is that first Real Madrid are arguably the greatest club of all time, they purchased Ronaldo for a world record fee and during the first 5 seasons they won 1 league title, Copa del Rey and 1 CL. That's not much of a return when you consider the investment particular when you consider the fact that they added an other world record fee before the CL win and it took a lot of investment in order to turn them into CL serial winners.off the top of my head, Ronaldo to Madrid gave them an incredible return. Cantona to United is an obvious one too.
Value for money - Roy Keane
Longevity - Buffon
Impact - Di Stefano
Game Changer - Jean Marc Bosman
Mbappe and neymar too.Van Dijk has to be up there somewhere
Thats insane. They bought him underpriced, got his prime and made all their money back.There are a few threads on here about poor transfers but I can't remember seeing one like this. I'll only put in one rule, No youth player transfer from one academy to the next.
Hard to look past Cristiano for me in one sense. He won a load of trophies and Real still managed to sell him off for a tidy fee when he was in his mid 30s. But at the same time I feel he only lived up to expectations, or performed at par so to speak. Ronaldo was already the second best player in the world, but did he go up a level at Real Madrid? He also cost a fair amount at the time.
Other contenders I think include Cantona, Lampard, Ronaldinho to Barcelona and Henry to Arsenal. I think Arsene managed to sell him for a profit as well.
That was Ronaldo and he deservedly claimed all the accolades. We lost the title the season after Ronaldo left. Then won in 2011 and RVP won us 2013. maybe Rooney was the leader for just ONE of those titlesRooney to Utd has to be up there. The main reason we won titles in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Top goalscorer in club history.
Hard to beat the return on investment for a club on this transfer.Messi to Barcelona
I think so too. He's a marvellous striker.An other great suggestion that completely slipped my mind, an obvious one too. Also do we generally recognize him as one of the very best strikers of all time? I think that we should.
They were competing with one of the best teams of all times and would never have closed the gap without RonaldoMy issue with Ronaldo in that list is that first Real Madrid are arguably the greatest club of all time, they purchased Ronaldo for a world record fee and during the first 5 seasons they won 1 league title, Copa del Rey and 1 CL. That's not much of a return when you consider the investment particular when you consider the fact that they added an other world record fee before the CL win and it took a lot of investment in order to turn them into CL serial winners.
I wouldn't say that it was the transfer that changed their fate, while it was a great acquisition it's more in line with "regular" great acquisitions, it was done at a high price and it didn't completely change the team history.
Arguably the most important transfer in football for the last 30 years.
If we are talking about the best transfer of all time than there is a need to demonstrate that it single-handedly made the difference which is clearly not the case when it comes to Ronaldo first because he wasn't the only top level signing that summer, it was alongside Xabi Alonso, Benzema and Kaka. Xabi Alonso and Benzema were key players in the future successes, then the following season they brought Ozil, Di Maria and Khedira who were also key players for the first Liga title during Ronaldo's tenure and then when it comes to the CL haul the additions of Modric and Bale were also key.They were competing with one of the best teams of all times and would never have closed the gap without Ronaldo
This.Cristiano to Madrid.
Cantona to United.
Lewandowski to Bayern.
Maradona to Napoli.
I'd pick Rooney to us too.
So, VdS became world class once he came here?Holy shit, that must be the best "bulk deal" of all time! 3 of those 4 players became world class and remained so for several seasons and the 4th is one of the greatest squad players ever.
I agree with but also adds the "immediate and individual impact" points. Maradona impacts was very special, Napoli reached an other level instantaneously.I think there's a difference between the ready-made superstars at the top of their game who became available (C Ronaldo, Lewandowski, Di Stefano) and the players who were more of a punt and went on to transform themselves and their new clubs (Cantona the most obvious example). The first group didn't require much insight, just the ability to pay big wages and/or transfer fee and the status of a superclub. While the second were proper gambles, with some risk attached for the 'damaged goods' types (eg Maradona) and deserve some extra bonus points in my view.
What about players who perhaps didn't set their new club on fire on the pitch but were an important cog in the machine. He's not the best transfer of all time, but what did the experience of that guy Ferguson signed in 2006/2007 or so, I can't remember his name bring to that United side and the impact on the young players there.I think there's a difference between the ready-made superstars at the top of their game who became available (C Ronaldo, Lewandowski, Di Stefano) and the players who were more of a punt and went on to transform themselves and their new clubs (Cantona the most obvious example). The first group didn't require much insight, just the ability to pay big wages and/or transfer fee and the status of a superclub. While the second were proper gambles, with some risk attached for the 'damaged goods' types (eg Maradona) and deserve some extra bonus points in my view.