Prof. Rob Wilson ⚽️💷
5.1K posts
@ProfRob_Wilson
Professor of Applied Sport Finance; Dean @UCFB; Programme Director @VSIExecEd; Other Half of @richand_rob; EiC @MSLJournal.
This is all you need to know about the myth that is ‘Net Spend’. When someone quotes it at you, just laugh. It’s a nonsense in the grand scheme of things.
City have only spent £80m more than Arsenal over a 5 year period but then say netspend is a poor guide because it doesn’t fit your narrative. City have sold big players over the last 5 years which means they have to go and spend to replace them. City have sold 6 players over the last 5 seasons for £330m their names: Alvarez, Mahrez, Torres, Sterling, Jesus, Palmer and Zinchenko. All part of the main squad. Arsenals entire player sales over the period is £265m 😂…. Also over Peps 10 years he has less Net spend than Arsenal. Yeh wages no doubt are higher over the period because City has been playing CL for 10+ years straight while Arsenal was out of Europe or playing Europa league. Arsenal have the highest growing wages in the league to match their renewed “success” and increasing revenue. It’s normal.
Manchester United haven't spent £100million sacking managers and head coaches, as has been said elsewhere. But the costs are growing and now top £20m in the past two seasons alone. An update of a piece originally published in October 2025:
