At his weekly press conference on Friday, Chelsea Manager Antonio Conte admitted that his team needs to strengthen the back line. However, the Italian said that the Blues will not be held ransom to exorbitant player transfer fees. The prices just keep going up and up, and up and up and up, in this insane transfer market.
Asked if he was okay with Chelsea overpaying in order sign another player this summer, Conte answered:
“No, I’m not comfortable. I don’t like to pay a lot of money. If a player deserves us to pay [lots of] money, then it’s right. But for a medium player, it’s right to pay the right price, not £20-30m over. That’s not right. The money is not mine, but I don’t like it the same. I don’t find it right.”
“At this moment it’s very difficult to buy because if you ask a player of the medium level, they might ask for £55m. For this reason, it’s a crazy market. It’s very difficult to enter the market with these prices and in this condition.”
“That is why we are waiting for the right situation. We must be patient and wait. Not only for Chelsea. I saw also with the other clubs, it’s very difficult to have a good market. But now it’s a real situation. We must live with this situation in the right way.”
“I am pleased to have these players. They have shown me great attitude, great behaviour. I’m delighted to train them every day. Now we have these players and we are very happy to work with them. But we have two weeks before the end of the transfer market. If we can improve this squad, we want to improve it.”
Just a couple weeks ago, Manchester United broke the world transfer fee record when they signed Paul Pogba for £89.3 million. Pogba’s new manager, Jose Mourinho doesn’t see why there should be any controversy or issue with the exorbitant spending.
“I don’t think Real were upset when they broke the record with Gareth Bale or Cristiano. I don’t think it’s a reason to be sad — it’s a reason to be proud,” The Special One continued.
“Football is crazy and the market has become crazy. What you think this season is crazy, you realize three years later it’s not crazy any more.”
“There are players who cost £10m who are super expensive because they’re players [who are worth] £500,000 or £1m. What is expensive and not expensive in football? I don’t know any more. I just know he is a big player.”
The deal was critiqued by both Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
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