We here at Planet Football are old enough to remember the days when $18 million was a lot of money. Now? Small change. According to last week's football gossip $18 million would only buy half of Real Madrid's Raul, the subject of a $36 million bid from Lazio, and a quarter of Barcelona's Rivaldo, who still occupies most of Alex Ferguson's night-time dreams.
For the same sum Arsenal would only acquire a fifth of David Beckham and a sixth of Ruud van Nistelrooy, the PSV Eindhoven striker everyone wants (latest favourites: Roma). Crumlin United old boy Alan Mahon, currently earning a living at Tranmere, won't cost quite that much but his destination next season is no less clear: take your pick from Leeds, Celtic, Coventry and Blackburn. What of Paolo Maldini's future? Friday's Mirror: "I would love to move to England and, in particular, Chelsea." Saturday's Daily Mail: "I'll say now as I have on previous occasions that that story gave me a good laugh - I want to finish my career at Milan."
And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer? A Norwegian internet site on Thursday? "I can't hide that I'm very much fed up with sitting on the bench with Manchester United - I want a move." Every English newspaper on Saturday: "Anyone who wants to leave the biggest club in the world must be stupid. I never said that and it's given me the greatest shock. It could not be further from the truth."
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