Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo transfer to Real Madrid an example of abusive transfer system, argues players’ union Fifpro
Cristiano Ronaldo's 2009 move from Real Madrid to Manchester United demonstrates the unfair nature of football's current transfer system, argues players' union Fifpro.
United received £80m for Ronaldo, but the smaller clubs where he started his career received a relative pittance in comparison.
Fifpro, who have filed a legal complaint against Fifa's current transfer system with the European Commission, found that Sporting Lisbon, where Ronaldo played before United, received £10m as part of the deal, while his first ever club Andorinha received two sets of kit and 20 footballs.
Read more: Football's transfer system unfair and failing, argues report
In contrast, third-party investors, banks and agents received £18.9m in fees related to the then-record transfer.
The union argues: "This example highlights once again what research has proven to be an undeniable reality, that transfer fees only circulate among a small group of elite clubs, agents and third parties."
Fifpro today released a report commissioned to sports economist Stefan Szymanski which concluded that the transfer system was unfair and uncompetitive.
Szymanski wrote: "It [the Fifa transfer system] sustains the dominance of elite clubs by ensuring that they are the only ones with the financial muscle to afford the transfer fees payable for the very best players."