Ronaldo effect fails to take hold in summer of transfer caution

AROUND Europe this summer, there have been a few club officials fearing the call.

One of the biggest questions remaining in this transfer window is who Real Madrid will sign to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.

That they have not made their move yet has surprised many, while also keeping most of Europe’s top clubs on edge.

The biggest talking point of this transfer window is how subdued it’s been. Two of the six biggest signings – Kylian Mbappe to Paris SaintGermain and Naby Keita to Liverpool – were actually agreed last summer.

The biggest deal struck this summer remains Ronaldo’s move to Juventus.

The Portuguese’s €117m transfer was expected to be the signing that exploded this window, but that has not happened – possibly as a result bringing an ongoing escalation from Paris Saint-Germain’s purchase of Neymar last year, potentially leading to the Brazilian going to the Bernabeu.

When Neymar’s sensational move from Barcelona to PSG was done last summer, sources close to the Paris club’s hierarchy maintained that one of the plans was to ‘short-squeeze’ the European market.

Some officials were apparently keenly aware that, if they pushed fees and wages up to ever-higher levels, only Manchester City and maybe United would be able to compete with them – and at a level they themselves want to reach.

The big clubs are essentially wary of exploding the market further, so are very much holding on what they’ve got.

This is not to say there is any kind of pact or official agreement or anything so co-ordinated.

It is, however, known from