(Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)
In 2003, a 16-year-old Spaniard left Barcelona for Arsenal on a free transfer, as he was not under contract. Two years later, another 15-year-old Spaniard transferred from Barcelona to Arsenal in similar circumstances.
Arsenal are not the only club to sign foreign youngsters. Bayern Munich singed a 15-year-old Roque Santa Cruz, Manchester United signed the Da Silva twins, and Barcelona signed Lionel Messi.
Lionel Messi joined Barcelona as a 13-year-old. One reason was Barca offered to pay for his medical care. Federico Macheda, Alberto Massacci, and Daniel Petrucci joined the club as their fathers were offered jobs at Old Trafford.
This is known in the football world as poaching.
Arsene Wenger has come under scrutiny for signing foreign youngsters, now Sir Alex Ferguson is now facing attacks from the Italian media and Carlos Alberto, who accused Sir Alex of raping Brazil.
Morally and ethically, poaching youngsters is wrong; clubs should really promote from within. However, is it morally or ethically right when a player is bought for £80 million? Or, if a club pays a player £200,000 a-week after tax?
The argument coming from UEFA and FIFA, is that these players that are being poached are far too young, to move abroad. They are too immature to make these decisions. Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter are desperate to make Europe more competitive. Both are planning to impose laws that restrict players from moving who are under the age of 23.
The real reason why clubs whose starlets are poached are so aggrieved is because the money they have lost. Macheda, Massacci, Petrucci, Pogba, the Da Silva twins, and Merida are all world class talents who are potentially £30 million. Fabregas and Messi are world-class players, potentially worth more.
Paying Paul Pogba's family vast sums of money to get the player is seen by many as wrong. Bribing a player's family on the face of it is wrong, but ask yourself: Would you turn down the opportunity to play for one of the best teams in the world and improve your family's quality of life?
Can you really say that Barcelona have poached Lionel Messi? Would he have reached the heights of superstardom at the same rate? Would he even have a career in football due to his growth deficiency?
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