Dietmar Hamann admits to harbouring doubts over the levels of money currently flooding into the English game.
City midfielder voices supporter worry
Dietmar Hamann admits to harbouring doubts over the levels of money currently flooding into the English game, with the Manchester City midfielder aware that the average supporter is slowly being priced out of attending matches.
The German is only too aware of the effect heavy investment can have on a football club, having been a close-hand observer of the recent takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group at Eastlands.
Robinho's arrival in Manchester for a British record fee has sent a message to the rest of the Premier League and while Hamann is excited by what is happening at City, he also accepts every silver lining can have its cloud.
Speaking of City's new owners, he told German newspaper
Die Welt: "It seems like these people have really big plans and the signs are good.
"We have been moving in circles which are very hard to even conceive.
"It would be a shame if the normal family could no longer afford to go to the stadium. The English are walking on thin ice.
"They cannot ignore the fans and they have got to be careful."
Money talks
Hamann is, though, willing to accept that in modern football success without vast finances is all but impossible.
"You cannot buy success, but money certainly makes things easier," said Hamann.
"Take the example of Chelsea. Before Mr Abramovich arrived, they were only an average club and since then they have taken giant steps.
"The biggest challenge is to get a team on the field which pulls in the same direction and is not just a group of stars playing their own game.
"If we can avoid that, then Manchester City can catch up with the best teams in Europe and, maybe in five to 10 years, overtake them."
