In an internet article on 5 February 2007 BBC Sports reported Portugal coach Scolari's comments about Cristiano Ronaldo. The article states as quoted in The Sun, Scolari feels Ronaldo should leave Man U and head for Barcelona, to better his football career. Fans accept the fact that rumors are part of the game. However, we are led to believe the statements in the article are true. Similar "statements" are starting to surface that Henri is unhappy again and is also being tempted by Barca and Real Madrid, and we all know there is still talk that Jose Mourinho could leave Chelsea this summer even though he signed a contract until 2010. Each player and manager has a contract that supposedly holds him to his current club. It seems to me that at any given time any contract can be broken by an offering of more money, especially if the club is struggling financially. Racehorse owners are experts at using this process. Today, when a player or a manager signs a contract, holds up the club shirt and kisses the badge, we can no longer trust his long term loyalty. Maybe this is the reason Arsenal player contract terms are renewed each year. Just how important is a contract? For that matter when a player or a manager extends his term with the club do fans really believe he will stay for the duration? In some cases breaking a contract makes good business sense when a player or manager is no longer contributing or becomes a distructive element to the team and to the club. More than ever the game of football is being driven by money. We all know the game of football must be run as a business, keeping the profit line in focus. Which group, fans or stockholders, carries the loudest voice to the listening ears of any club's financiers? Are the money boys even listening? Which group catches the media's attention? How much of what we read can we believe? Define loyalty.
Long term contracts are put in place to force an interested club in paying a transfer for a club. For clubs to make money from the coaching and developing of players, they need to tie them to long term contracts to ensure some return on their investment... breaking a contract to get a greater salary elsewhere is where the line gets broken. You can thank the the only famous Belgian Mr. Bosman for this current scenario - as club's used to buy and sell registrations. Loyalty is now defined by decent salary for the player with a Guarantee of 1st team football, those are the respective sides bargaining chips.
