UEFA president Michel Platini described the current transfer system as robbery yesterday and said he would like to see it revamped.
“I think transfers are robbery,” he told a media conference.
“Today, the player is more a product than a player and that irks me because there is a whole lot of people trying to make this player make money in order to earn commissions, we should think about that and try to find something more healthy.
“Players are not free and they don’t even belong to clubs, they belong to financial holdings, whereas before you belonged to the club.
“I agree maybe this window is too big, too long.”
Monaco splash out on Kondogbia
Big-spending Monaco splashed out another €20 million to sign France midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia from Sevilla yesterday.
The 20-year-old has agreed a five-year contract with Monaco who are owned by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev and have spent more than €170 million since the end of last season.
“The midfielder will continue his development with Monaco,” the principality club said.
Monaco have signed big names including Colombia striker Radamel Falcao from Atletico Madrid, and his fellow countryman James Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho of Portugal, both from Porto.
Lescott eyes new Man. City deal
Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott is keen to stay at the Etihad Stadium.
The England international is in the final year of his present deal and his future has been the subject of speculation.
The 30-year-old fell down the pecking order under former manager Roberto Mancini last season and, after starting City’s first two matches of the season, Lescott wants to stay on.
Lescott told City’s website: “I have expressed a number of times that nothing more would please me than to sign an extension.
“If that negotiating ever happens I will be ready to sign.”
Kaka wants to leave Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s Brazilian playmaker Kaka has told the Spanish club he wants to leave after deciding he will not get sufficient playing time under new coach Carlo Ancelotti.
The 31-year-old has failed to reproduce the form that won him a World Player of the Year award in 2007 since he joined Real from Milan for a fee of €65m in 2009.
“The club knows I want to leave and I would like them to help me find a solution for my exit,” he told reporters.
“Things are difficult for me here, there is less room in the squad all the time.”
Schalke complete Boateng swoop
Champions League competitors Schalke 04 have signed Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng on a four-year deal after the Ghana international passed his medical at the German club yesterday.
“I am delighted to be back home in Germany,” Germany-born Boateng told reporters. “It is one of the best leagues in the world.
“The first contact was made a year ago but sometimes you have to wait a bit longer for the good things and opportunities.”
The 26-year-old, who has also played for Hertha Berlin, Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur and is the half brother of Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng, joined Milan in 2010.
Spurs snap up Lamela, Chiriches
Tottenham’s summer spending spree passed the £90 million mark when they completed the signing of Erik Lamela from Roma.
Vlad Chiriches became the club’s fifth summer purchase yesterday morning when he completed his £8.5 million move from Steaua Bucharest and four hours later, the London club confirmed that they had signed 21-year-old Lamela for £25.8 million.
Lamela moved to Roma from River Plate two years ago and he quickly became recognised as one of the hottest properties in Europe.
United lodge bid for Herrera
Athletic Bilbao have received an offer for midfielder Ander Herrera from English Premier League champions Manchester United, the La Liga club’s president Josu Urrutia said yesterday.
Urrutia told a news conference Herrera, who has a contract until the end of the 2015-16 season, could only move if he informed the Spanish club he wanted to leave and United paid his buyout clause of 36 million ($47.6 million).
Sports daily Marca reported yesterday that United had offered 30 million for the 24-year-old, while As newspaper said the offer was worth27 million.
“We received the offer last night and we have already said that we do not negotiate for our players,” Urrutia was quoted as saying on Bilbao’s Twitter feed.