I see now it's his attitude you're concerned about. If so then offload him after one season for £20m. Still a cool £7m or about 50% gain. I'm sure the Moneyball men at the club think this way.
Schalke bought a player last year we'd been scouting, Amine Harit, from Nantes for 7 mil, who is now worth about 20 mil or so. If he'd played for us (and in our system) instead, I have no doubt he'd be worth double that. Even if we bought him now for that higher fee, we'd still likely turn him into a 60+ mil player within a couple years.
Young, versatile, exceptional traits, passionate, works hard, and would kill it in our system. And he's not the only one of such out there.
Shaqiri may not end up being awful. We may not end up losing money on his eventual sale. But his place in the team comes at the expense of the Harits and the Simons out there, or the Woodburns and such from within our club, whose higher ceilings we may never explore.
Of course, like some of the other critics here, despite our doubts, despite these other costs that come from his inclusion, we do recognise that there is a chance he may actually contribute to some success, and will support him as a member of our beloved team if he signs.
Being critical of people and supporting them are not mutually exclusive. I am critical of kids I train, but I also support them through that criticism with guidance and practice. If Shaqiri works hard, plays smart, and has a positive influence on the dressing room, then those costs can at least be forgiven. Let's hope he does at least that!
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