Mudrik a year ago was 20 times cheaper. And now he dreams of the Golden Ball.
Ukrainian Shakhtar lost the opportunity to make money on the sale of legionnaires after FIFA allowed foreigners to pause contracts and leave for free. But the club’s management found a way to make money. Having received a number of offers for midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk, the Pitmen tried to make up for all their losses. Exorbitant greed almost ruined the idea, but the situation was saved by an American who wished to get the most expensive Ukrainian.
Looks like Chelsea just cheated.
It seemed a little
Chelsea have officially announced the transfer of Ukrainian footballer Mykhailo Mudryk. Earlier, Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano said on social networks that the deal could amount to 70 million euros, and taking into account bonuses, all 110 million. Colleague insider Nicolo Schira added on his own behalf that the contract will be calculated until 2030, and the player’s earnings will be approximately 7. 5 million euros per season.
Thus, the Shakhtar midfielder became the most expensive Ukrainian football player after the deal was completed. It’s funny that a year ago, the Transfermarkt portal estimated Mudrik at 4 million euros, and in the summer of 2021 the price tag was at around 600 thousand. The bosses of Shakhtar, however, even then realized that it would be possible to make good money on the young midfielder. At the very least, Brentford’s December 2021 offer was turned down. But we were talking about a good amount of 12-15 million euros. It didn’t seem enough for the Pitmen.
True, already in the spring, the Ukrainian club seemed to have agreed to give the player to the “bees” – Calciomercato reports on the upcoming deal. And it is unlikely that at that time Shakhtar could count on a fundamental improvement in the offer. If not for the Premier League’s ban on registering Ukrainians outside the transfer window, Mikhail could have been charming or, on the contrary, disappointing English fans with his game for several months. But the transfer did not take place even in the summer window.
“Dream Wounded”
— In the last week of the transfer window, Shakhtar received an offer from Everton for 30 million euros + bonuses. A refused negotiations after the transfer of Anthony for 100 million euros. The club said: “We don’t want to sell Mudrik even for 40m, we want more.” Now they are convinced that they will sell it for crazy money,” Fabrizio Romano wrote on social networks.
Apparently, the idea to sell Mudrik at an exorbitant price already captured the minds of the Shakhtar management. Mikhail tried to prove with his game in the Champions League that he really deserves the attention of big clubs. In six group stage matches, he scored three goals and scored two assists. The result is not bad, but definitely not phenomenal.
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta laid eyes on the young midfielder. In November 2022, the Gunners offered 50 million euros for the Shakhtar player, the Pitmen quite unexpectedly refused. At the beginning of 2023, the London club improved the offer – 70 million. But even this amount was not enough for the leaders of Shakhtar – they demanded 100 million. But Mikhail was already on fire with the idea of moving to the Emirates, and in his dreams he imagined himself in the red and white uniform of the London team.
I found out my price and was shocked. Every footballer has a dream – to play in a top club, I am no exception. But I am 100% sure that it is unlikely that a player will be bought from the Ukrainian championship for 100 million. Upset. The amount puts a barrier. I am a professional and will continue to give my best. But I can not say that my dream is killed. Wounded – that’s for sure, – Sport Arena quoted Mudrik.
Not a miner’s problem
Shakhtar needed to compensate for losses, which, according to management, amounted to 50 million euros. A slightly smaller amount was due to debts. However, constantly raising the price tag, the Pitmen risked being left with nothing. Arsenal already wanted to stop bargaining with the Ukrainians and turn their attention to other players. Only Arteta’s persistence did not allow the Gunners to put an end to this transfer.
But while the London club was thinking, Chelsea appeared on the horizon and hurried to intercept Mudrik from a competitor. The new owner of the “aristocrats” Todd Boely is far more successful in spending money than achieving any result in sports terms. Among fans of the team, it is widely believed that the American simply does not understand football. But in any case, the boss of the London club made a choice, and Mudrik, dreaming after a sudden promotion about the Golden Ball, is now at his disposal.
Some Chelsea fans have already been quick to dismiss the transfer as absurd, pointing out that it’s stupid to sign a player who was eager to join a competitor. Especially for such money. So far, everything points to the fact that the Ukrainian club simply deceived Chelsea, forcing the British to overpay heavily for a not very clear transfer.
