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Mario Balotelli the most 'under-paid' transfer this summer

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli is the "most under-paid player" in terms of transfer fee during...
Newstalk
Newstalk

15.57 2 Sep 2014


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Mario Balotelli the most &...

Mario Balotelli the most 'under-paid' transfer this summer

Newstalk
Newstalk

15.57 2 Sep 2014


Share this article


Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli is the "most under-paid player" in terms of transfer fee during this summer's window.

That's according to the CIES Football Observatory, which is part-funded by FIFA and affiliated to the University of Neuchatel in Switzerland, who have calculated the difference between estimated transfer values of players and the eventual fees for which they were purchased during this summer's transfer window.

Based on a number of factors including age, status and goal-scoring records, Balotelli's "right price" would be approximately €35 million according to the Football Observatory. But Liverpool were able to acquire the Italy international for just €20 million from AC Milan.

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At the other end of the scale, Manchester United over-paid for Angel Di Maria according to the Football Observatory, with a €30 million gap between "right price" and transfer fee.

Ireland striker Shane Long's move from Hull to Southampton has also been deemed as over-paid, along with James Rodriguez and David Luiz' transfers to Real Madrid and PSG respectively. Calum Chambers' move from Southampton to Arsenal has also been placed in the over-paid category.

Liverpool's signings of defender Dejan Lovren and midielder Adam Lallana  have been considered over-paid as has Man United's purchases of Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw, while Arsenal also over-paid for Alexis Sanchez according to the Football Observatory.

However, Luis Suarez move from Liverpool to Barcelona has been categorized as under-paid to the tune of €12 million, similarly to Diego Costa's switch from Atletico Madrid to Chelsea.

Transfers deemed to have gone through at the "right price" include Danny Welbeck and Mathieu Debuchy's Arsenal moves, Emre Can's transfer to Liverpool and Real Madrid's acquisition of Toni Kroos from Bayern Munich. 

For a full list of over-paid and under-paid players according to the Football Observatory, click here.


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