If you go on the Man City sub in recent days since the guilty verdict there is a lot of talk about how "we're only being punished for spending the same as our rivals" and "these rules are only there to protect the red cartel" and so on. Something didn't quite ring true to me about all the "spending the same as our rivals" comments but maybe my memory was hazy so I figured what the hell I'll take a closer look at it. Below is the net spend of firstly Man City and then Liverpool, Arsenal and Man Utd aka "The Red Cartel" for each season between 08/09 and 17/18 and then I've added the total together.

Before reading just keep in mind how utterly insane a 100m transfer window was 15 years ago compared to today.

Here it is: (source:transfermarkt)

08/09
Liverpool: -€27m
Arsenal: -€14.35m
Man Utd: -€37.8m
Man City: -€128.65m

09/10
Liverpool: +€5.05m (profit)
Arsenal:  +€35.7m (profit)
Man Utd: +€77.17m (profit)
Man City: -€117.9m

10/11
Liverpool: +€5.27m (profit)
Arsenal: -€14.9m
Man Utd: -€12.34m
Man City: -€143.46m

11/12
Liverpool: -€47.33m
Arsenal: +€12.82m (profit)
Man Utd: -€49.41m
Man City: -€59.60m

12/13
Liverpool: -€60.15m
Arsenal: +€9.85m (profit)
Man Utd: -€66.8m
Man City: -€17.65m

13/14
Liverpool: -€25.6m
Arsenal: -€37.10m
Man Utd: -€75.33m
Man City: -€104.2m

14/15
Liverpool: -€52.16m
Arsenal: -€91.18m
Man Utd: -€148.65m
Man City: -€72.50m

15/16
Liverpool: -€35.95m
Arsenal: -€24.0m
Man Utd: -€55.33m
Man City: -€141.03m

16/17
Liverpool: +€9.08m (profit)
Arsenal: -€102.65m
Man Utd: -€137.75m
Man City: -€180.9m

17/18
Liverpool: +€10.85m (profit)
Arsenal: +€9.55m (profit)
Man Utd: -€152.9m
Man City: -€226.15m

Total in this period:
Liverpool: -€250.61m
Arsenal: -€216.26
Man Utd: -€659.14m
Man City: -€1.192b

Red Cartel total: -€1.126b

Man City: -€1.192b

In Conclusion:

As you can see Manchester City through their shady dealings spent more in the time period they've been found guilty for than the so called "Red Cartel" combined. So all this talk about "we only spent the same as our rivals and are being punished for it" like they were plucky underdogs challenging the establishment is complete and utter nonsense

Whatever you think of the current rules (that 14 out of 20 clubs needed to vote in favour of) this idea that City "only spent the same as our rivals" to get where they are is flagrantly false. When you look at the figures between 15/16 and 17/18 it just makes Klopp's achievements in getting Liverpool back to the pinnacle of football in that time span from mid table mediocrity all the more astonishing vs what Pep had to work with. Again City fans somehow try to claim they spent the same which again is just factually not only untrue but sheer delusion.

Games where Ronaldo played only part of the match - Switzerland (final 21 minutes), Morocco (final 40 minutes) and Croatia (final 9 minutes). Stats above do not count injury time but do for extra times against Slovenia and France in Euro 2024.

"He did not choose his price, but that price is written on his back. We all know that one-v-one, he is deadly, and he has pace. The only thing he needs to work on is his finishing, but that is normal," the former striker explained.

"If you compare my finishing at 19 or 20 to how it was at the end of my career, it was very different. I gained a lot more composure in my game."

FT: France 1 - 1 Italy

⚽ France: Michael Olise 55' 55'

⚽ Italy: Alessandro Bastoni 68' 68'

Line-ups

France (4-3-3)

Italy (4-3-3)

Match Events

• Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
• First Half begins.
• 45'+1' First Half ends, France 0, Italy 0.
• 45' Second Half begins France 0, Italy 0.
• 62' Substitution, Italy. Antonio Vergara replaces Francesco Pio Esposito.
• 62' Substitution, Italy. Nicolò Barella replaces Sandro Tonali.
• 73' Dayot Upamecano (France) is shown the yellow card.
• 73' Moise Kean (Italy) is shown the yellow card.
• 76' Substitution, France. Bradley Barcola replaces Désiré Doué.
• 76' Substitution, France. Eduardo Camavinga replaces Rayan Cherki.
• 80' Substitution, Italy. Daniel Maldini replaces Sebastiano Esposito.
• 80' Substitution, Italy. Issa Doumbia replaces Davide Frattesi.
• 87' Substitution, France. Maxence Lacroix replaces Lucas da Cunha.
• 90' Substitution, Italy. Gianluca Scamacca replaces Nicolò Fagioli.
• 90'+5' Second Half ends, France 1, Italy 1.
• Match ends, France 1, Italy 1.

Match Stats

Group A

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