Platini embarrassed by fees

UEFA chief says he's powerless to stop clubs spending large sums

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 2nd July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Platini embarrassed by fees

Platini: Vows to introduce 'financial fair play'

Related links

Teams

Also see

Michel Platini admits he is 'embarrassed' by the amount of money changing hands in the transfer market although he insists he is powerless to stop it.

The Uefa president has criticised the likes of Real Madrid for extravagantly splashing the cash this summer.

The Spaniards have spent close to £180million with the signings of Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul Albiol and most recently Karim Benzema.

The situation has angered the Frenchman but he accepts that if the clubs have that sort of money to spend it is difficult to stop them.

"Ronaldo's transfer stood out for me, but if Real have guarantees from the banks...On a personal note, I don't understand how anyone can spend 90million (Euros) on a player. I'm embarrassed," he told L'Equipe.

"But I remember the (Diego) Maradona transfer from Barcelona to Napoli (in 1984). This would be the equivalent of 6.5million and I found that vulgar.

Something wrong

"I think there is something wrong there.

"I don't like that, and even less given the fact that today players sign contracts only to then go and break them. But as I said if clubs have the money what can I do?"

Platini has called for a salary cap in European football in the past to promote financial fair play and he reveals that those plans could come to fruition in a few years' time.

"We will do something," he added. "We are working on that. But it will take a little time, perhaps two or three years. I want to establish rules."