Madrid failures a lesson for rich City

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE TRANSFER DEADLINE: Manchester City's future success depends not on how much money they have, but the manner in which they spend it, writes Daniel Taylor

THE AIM, ultimately, is worldwide domination. Garry Cook, Manchester City's executive chairman, has already spoken of the club outgrowing Manchester United and, at the time, many people wondered whether he had his fingers crossed behind his back. But one takeover and one Brazilian superstar later, and nobody ought to be too taken aback when City's new billionaire owners start talking about making €166 million bids for Cristiano Ronaldo.

We have been here before, of course. In 1976, City's chairman was Peter Swales and before one match he wrote in the club's programme: "If we've not hit the high spots in two years, I will consider that a failure. My personal ambition is to see City as the No1 club in the country. Anything other than that and I have failed, and I hope I am big enough to accept it." He wasn't and, 32 years on, City are still waiting for their next trophy.

The difference this time is that City are no longer just a football club but a giant fruit machine. Yet vast amounts of money do not always equate to trophies. There are certain models to be followed and, just as importantly, there are those that should be avoided.

Real Madrid once had wealth that made them the envy of every other club in the world. And yet the romance of the Galactico era is largely a myth. Their president at the time was Florentino Perez, an egomaniac who, in his final three years, spent €440m on 20 players, fired six coaches and four sporting directors and won nothing - Madrid's longest run without a trophy for more than half a century.

The horror stories of that time should act as a warning about what can happen when people with vast sums of money but little knowledge of football get in a position of power. When Carlos Queiroz, as manager, asked Perez for money to sign a defender and central midfielder, the club responded by selling their holding player, Claude Makelele, and that summer David Beckham arrived. Beckham was signed when the club already had Luis Figo to play on the right wing and, all the time, the presence of so many superstars caused resentment and friction among the other players.

Outside the club's training ground one day there was a huge poster of Beckham, Figo, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos. One player looked up at it and observed: "You'd think they were the only players at this club."

In City's case, Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim has already spoken about trying to sign Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, David Villa, Ronaldo (the tubby Brazilian version), Mario Gomez and Fernando Torres.

Revealingly, he did not mention one defender or goalkeeper and only one midfielder, Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas.

This is where the manager should be trusted and, in Mark Hughes, City have someone who appears to be well qualified and well respected. Yet transfers are already being negotiated above Hughes's head. He had no say in the summer-long pursuit of Ronaldinho and little input in the €23.3 million signing of Jo, and that smacks worryingly of what happened at Madrid before Perez eventually fired the man who was responsible: himself.

Manchester United and Chelsea, despite the criticism both clubs attract, are much better models. Theirs are impressive behind-the-scenes operations and, in United's case, there is a manager, Alex Ferguson, who has retained a strong enough position for the club's owners, the Glazer family, never to attempt to force a player on him.

When Ferguson hit rock-bottom in late 2005, the Glazers showed nerve and patience and put their trust in him. Would the billionaire tycoons behind the Abu Dhabi United Group do the same if Hughes has a sticky run? It is difficult to tell, but it will certainly not help Hughes if, after every bad result, he starts picking up Ranieri-esque vibes that the club are sounding out, say, Jose Mourinho.

Even if the Roman Abramovich is an occasional meddler, Chelsea have done more things right than not. They, like United, have a hinterland and fan base to attract new players even before the question of money arises. They have bought good players and, in doing so, projected the image of the club.

City have some catching up to do on that front but Manchester, as a city, is very much on the football map, with an international airport and a better climate than the stereotype.

Robinho's arrival will encourage more A-listers to treat City seriously.

Above all, it is important that City do it with a touch of class. Everyone has seen the mistakes at Chelsea: the PR disasters, the egos, the mudslinging, the nouveau riche lack of class. Back in 1976, Swales, the son of an Ardwick fishmonger, had a combover, Cuban heels and a gritty Mancunian accent. The ultra-ambitious Cook has his initials sewn into his shirt pocket, an American twang and Club Jaguar cufflinks. In one respect already, Manchester City have become Manchester United.

Guardian Service