There are many similarities between business and football. Supporters who work for big businesses are used to wage and salary structures. Some things about football are unique, creating special challenges.

Companies often claim “people are our greatest asset”. But football actually puts those assets on the balance sheet and those assets often appreciate, like Cristiano Ronaldo, Micah Richards or Nicolas Anelka.

Sometimes, however, they can dwindle to nothing at the end of a contract. Since the Bosman ruling, an out of contract player has the right to move without fee, negotiating the best wage deal.

With the Sky money washing round the Premier League there is a growing challenge to balance the transfer value of a player with the wages. Two examples were Lucas Neill and Michael Ballack.

West Ham were desperate for a reliable defender last season as they fought against relegation. Neill didn’t cost a huge transfer fee but settled personal terms at an astonishing £80,000 a week. Ballack was a free agent leaving Bayern Munich and without any transfer fee was able to negotiate a reputed £130,000 a week.

So what’s good business? Even at over 30, Ballack could have been worth £10m still in contract, equivalent to an additional £65,000 a week for a three year contract. Whether you have – or have the chance to buy - a good player, wages or transfer fees can be equally important.

If Micah Richards has settled for £45,000 a week, that’s good business. Could City find a player as good for less than £10 million who would settle for that? No. And that’s the dilemma now that football is big business.

These are the big business decisions that Premier League clubs now have to make. United’s turnover has reached a quarter of a billion pounds. But the most important decision is whether a player will stay for the long term. For players like Ryan Giggs and Richard Dunne, that’s about passion and commitment rather than big business.

What do you think? Have your say.

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