Source: Daily_Mail
Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer shows little fair play with all his money talk: MARTIN SAMUEL
When the inevitable moment came, Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was diplomatic, yet effortlessly on-message.[LNB]Asked to assess the Champions League tie between Bayern and Manchester City in financial fair play terms, a battle between the old European order and its evil usurper, new money, Neuer instinctively assumed an air of superiority.[LNB]'I think every club has its own philosophy and I can only speak of ours, which is to get in a lot of good young German players,' he said. 'They go with the good German players that are already here and as you can see it seems to work very well for us.' [LNB] Proud: Manuel Neuer has conceded just once in his Bundesliga career for Bayern Munich[LNB]He made it sound so noble, so altruistic, almost a national calling. The reality is a very rich club, with wealth established over many decades, solving their problems by throwing money around. [LNB]Bayern Munich are a great club but, like those other self-proclaimed saints of the modern game in Europe, Barcelona, is it not as if they operate on a superior moral plane once that pretence is stripped away.[LNB] More from Martin Samuel... England 123m Germany 0: It's the only result that matters in UEFA's Fair Play League - Martin Samuel 25/09/11 MARTIN SAMUEL: Why join in with the TV bully boys?22/09/11 Martin Samuel: Now ?50m Torres must score when it REALLY matters20/09/11 Martin Samuel: Brutal toll of a sport skating on thin ice18/09/11 MARTIN SAMUEL: Waiter, there's a bogus review in my soup....15/09/11 Martin Samuel: City discover it's a steep climb to Carnegie Hall14/09/11 Martin Samuel: Arsenal denied a landmark on long road to recovery13/09/11 Martin Samuel: Why shouldn't Stoke aim for the Champions League?13/09/11 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE Take the arrival of Neuer. He is not Munich's own but a product of the youth system at Schalke 04 in Gelsenkirchen, where he made more than 200 appearances for Under 23 and first teams before announcing he would not renew his contract, which expired at the end of the 2011-12 season. [LNB]Despite interest from abroad, notably Manchester United, Neuer made it clear that his preferred destination was Munich. With Schalke forced to sell a year early rather than let their prime asset go for free, a fee was agreed of roughly ?18million, making him the third most expensive goalkeeper of all time. [LNB]That Munich were able to pay this, rather than wait 12 months and sign Neuer for nothing, did not pass without comment in Germany. Rudi Voller, sporting director at Bayer Leverkusen, drew comparison with the most powerful clubs in Spain. [LNB]'We should not close our eyes when it comes to Munich's financial strength,' he said. 'They purchase a goalkeeper for nearly ?20m and he only has a one-year contract with Schalke. Not even Real Madrid have done such a thing.' [LNB]It is the shape of things to come in German football. There is a reason Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bayern's chief executive officer, is such an eager advocate of UEFA's financial fair play laws. When the dust settles after their implementation, BayernMunich will quite probably be the most powerful club in European football. [LNB] In it together: Bayern are a formidable club both on and off the field[LNB] The economic powerhouse team of the economic powerhouse country, creating revenue that will eclipse the spending power of every rival, certainly inside Germany, but possibly beyond.[LNB]A case for the defenceBayern Munich's defence has been outstanding this season.[LNB]Since their loss to Borussia Monchengladbach on the opening day of the Bundesliga campaign, they have played nine games in all competitions and scored 26 goals without conceding once.[LNB]Much of the defensive strength has been due to the form of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, the 25-year-old Germany No 1 signed from Schalke 04 in the summer. [LNB]The most recent European money list made Bayern Munich a top-four club, but that does not tell the whole story. Bayern's commercial revenues alone, minus prize money or transfer profits, are substantial enough to have justified a place in the top 10. [LNB]In 2009-10, when the last figures were published, they earned ?150m commercially - more than the entire revenue stream at Manchester City, or even at a Champions League regular such as Olympique Lyonnais of France. Their nearest commercial rival in Europe would be Real Madrid, who earn ?17.3m less. Manchester United, with the greatest commercial revenue in the Premier League, trail Munich by ?63.91m. [LNB] Men in the middle: Manchester City represent a different model to the one employed at the Allianz Arena[LNB]Sponsorship and marketing make up just under half of Munich's total commercial pot, bringing in ?72m, mainly due to the benefits of being not just the biggest club in Germany, but the only Bundesliga club with a global profile.[LNB]Munich have a unique selling point and their commercial tie-ups are blue chip: Deutsche Telekom, Audi, adidas. The Deutsche Telekom shirt sponsorship was the most lucrative in Europe until Barcelona struck oil in Qatar.[LNB]So what is the long-term plan? Bayern Munich financial director Karl Hopfner claims that Munich are financial fair play compliant now and within five years could be in a position to spend the ?80m that Real Madrid paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo. Munich's reputation is for conservatism in the transfer market. Flexing their muscles as the financial superpower of the European game, that could be about to change. [LNB] Power men: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (left) is a key figure at Bayern and in the world game[LNB]'There is generally no limit for transfers,' said Hopfner. 'But there may be a psychological barrier. Yetwhy should we put a limit?[LNB]'Thefirst thing we must ask ourselves is whether we should bring an ?80m player and whether we can afford him. Currently, we cannot do that, because it would breach financial fair play rules. However, who knows how things will stand in five years?'[LNB]Thisis what is driving Rummenigge's campaign to have the new regulations enforced vigorously. Unless clubs such as Manchester United can almost double commercial revenue streams, all that stands in Munich's way is outside investment at an emerging rival such as Manchester City. [LNB] Ready for action: Jerome Boateng will come up against his former club[LNB]If Rummenigge, in his position as acting chairman of the European Club Association, can successfully lobby to have City tied up in knots by UEFA, Munich's elevation will be as good as unopposed.[LNB]'It is not just about Manchester City, there are teams in other countries with debts, like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia,' said Jupp Heynckes, the Munich coach.[LNB]'What I would say is Munich is very economically sound, very intelligent and they have proved with the way they have managed their business that this can make a club very successful on the pitch.' [LNB]A record that saw Munich last lose a game or concede a goal on August 7 is evidence of that. If the club can get their way with UEFA's help, however, the golden era is only just beginning.[LNB] Manchester City walk with the elite: Emotional trek from Mansfield to MunichCity can forget about winning the Champions League, claims Bayern's BoatengRevealed! The soft side of Sir Alex, United boss has turned off the hairdryerScouting report: So what if Bayern are top of the Bundesliga and unbeaten in nine?[LNB]
