I’m A Slave 4 U

By: Ale | July 11th, 2008

So everyone’s in an uproar the past few days about FIFA president Sepp Blatter likening Manchester United’s treatment of Ronaldo to that of a “modern day slave.”

Wading into the protracted wrangle over the player’s future, Blatter said that the current practice of tying players to long contracts amounts to “modern slavery”.

And he urged Manchester United and Real Madrid “to sit together” if Ronaldo wants a move to the Spanish club.

“The important thing is we should also protect the player,” Blatter told Sky News.

“If the player wants to play somewhere else, then a solution should be found because if he stays in a club where he does not feel comfortable to play then it’s not good for the player and for the club.

“I’m always in favour of protecting the player and if the player, he wants to leave, let him leave.”

Blatter believes the issue raises questions about the way transfers and contracts are dealt with in the game.

“I think in football there’s too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere,” he continued.

“We are trying now to intervene in such cases. The reaction to the Bosman law is to make long-lasting contacts in order to keep the players and then if he wants to leave, then there is only one solution, he has to pay his contract.”

Not to be outdone, a few hours later Ronaldo gave an interview with a Portuguese TV station.

“I completely agree with the FIFA president,” said the player currently resting in Portugal after undergoing an ankle operation.

He added: “The president is correct, but I do not want to say more.”

Wait what? This is getting out of hand.

Last time I checked, “slaves” didn’t sign a contract.

Or spend their off season on Italian beaches.

Or bang their supermodel girlfriend in the back of their Bugatti Veyron every night.

Is United handling this wrong? Maybe. But this whole slave thing is ridiculous.